There are 90 old buildings in the Al-Balad area of the city that are a threat to public health.

This is according to a committee that had been set up to check the safety of buildings in this part of Jeddah, a source was quoted as saying by a local publication recently.

There are 38 buildings that have partially collapsed and 52 in a state of almost complete disrepair. The committee had assessed the buildings based on a study conducted by a municipality consultant.

The source said that city officials have not been able to track down the owners of the building, to tackle this problem. Recently a building collapsed killing an expatriate worker, but the owner cannot be traced.

The Jeddah municipality has built cement walls and set up fences around these buildings to protect the public. It has also urged the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage to assign a body to sort out this issue.

The source said something must be done because the Jeddah Historic Festival is only five months away. These structures must be renovated in time for the festival, in accordance with regulations, the source said.

Jeddah Mayor Hani Abu Ras had announced earlier that there were 736 historic buildings in the old part of the city, and that the municipality had an action plan to ensure they are kept in a condition that fulfills the requirements of the area being a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization world heritage site.

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