Heavy rain inundates parts of downtown

AMMAN — Traders in Downtown Amman’s Quraysh Street reported a significant rise in water levels during the heavy rainfall on Wednesday. 

Videos circulated on social media platforms, showed flooding of shops and damage, especially in lower areas near Al Husseini Mosque. 

"Last night [Wednesday] brought heavy rainfall that lasted from around 5pm to 10pm, exceeding 70 millimetres in some areas," Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) Spokesperson Nasser Rahamneh told The Jordan Times on Thursday over the phone. 

He noted that water flows from mountainous areas in Amman, and the water accumulates downtown due to the area’s topography.

"There were large pools of water in Quraysh Street, and GAM cadres handled the situation, bringing everything back to normal in the affected area," Rahamneh noted. 

As the cold front is expected to continue until Friday, Rahamneh said that GAM will increase the number of personnel and vehicles present downtown to deal with any developments.

An employee in a sweet shop near Al Husseini Mosque, told The Jordan Times that their area was not affected but shops in lower areas were damaged, noting that some traders were able to take precautions in removing their wares, while others had no alternative and their items inevitably damaged. 

President of the Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC), Khalil Haj Tawfiq told The Jordan Times of the chamber’s meeting on the issue of traders and damages, but was unavailable for further comment after the meeting convened.

In March of 2019, heavy rain flooded downtown Amman and caused “extensive damage”, prompting citizens to express their frustration over the country’s “poor” infrastructure.

In mid-August of 2019, GAM and the ACC pledged to reimburse the traders with a total of JD3 million, JD2 million of which would be supplied by GAM, and the remaining amount by the ACC, and the reimbursement was carried out during the year through several batches.

GAM, through various communication channels, in October 2019 called for checking the pumping system in shops, especially those that are on the street level, urging traders to take precautionary measures while storing their goods in underground warehouses.