'Amman municipality water pumps placed near tunnels to prevent flooding'

AMMAN — The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) said on Monday it has water pumps at the ready at four tunnels in Amman to prevent flooding and the disruption of traffic.

GAM spokesperson Izzedin Shammout said the pumps will be used in emergency cases after the four tunnels were flooded by rainfall in the past. 

"They are placed near the Sports City, Interior, Al Shaab and Medical City tunnels," he told The Jordan Times. 

Shammout noted that 5,000 GAM employees are being deployed to the streets in three shifts.

He called on residents not to litter as this makes the work of the staff harder during the current weather conditions. 

Accumulating trash could block manholes on the streets and cause floods during rain and snow.

"Sanitation workers collected 5,000 tonnes of garbage on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Until noon on Monday, they collected 850 tonnes of waste," Shammout told The Jordan Times over the phone.

The municipality received some 88 complaints until Monday morning, most of which were about broken tree branches on streets and car accidents, according to a GAM statement. 

The central Amman market also received 2,400 tonnes of fruit and vegetables on Sunday, Shammout added. 

"Everything is under control." 

He said GAM teams are also gearing up for Tuesday as the polar front, which has brought snow and heavy rain to the Kingdom, is forecast to intensify.