JEDDAH: Some female students at King Abdul Aziz University (KAU) in Jeddah have criticized the university's administration and teaching staff for allegedly abandoning them for several hours during last week's floods. They also claimed that the administration waited for hours before deciding to cancel all classes, during which time the rain had become heavier. They also accused the teaching staff of leaving them to their fate and not trying to help or rescue them. They claimed that the university does not have safety plans and emergency exits. It also has poorly built buildings, with leaking roofs. They said that this situation made them hysterical. Tahnai Al-Ghamdi, a student, said: “I was in the examination hall doing my half-term examinations when the sky turned dark and I heard thunder. The sight of the dark thunder clouds, which turned the day dark, filled me and my classmates with fear.” She said their fears were heightened when a small fire broke out, caused by an electricity short-circuit in the auditorium hall where they had taken refuge. “Not only this but the roof started falling on our heads. I then sent my will by SMS to my eldest sister in Makkah. What made us more afraid was when a safety and security employee told us to pronounce the Shahadah. This caused great chaos among the students.” She said the security officials managed to get buses onto the campus. “I will never forget how the drivers struggled through the strong currents to reach the campus.” She said they were provided with light meals at the campus which was insufficient considering the cold weather. Some of the safety and security employees at the university, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there are no emergency exits at the university or the necessary measures in place to evacuate female students in cases of emergency. This was why they were stranded for several hours. The administration and teaching staff were to blame for the chaos and panic at the university, they said.
