SDRPY Accelerates Work on Yemen's Heijat Al-Abed Road Rehabilitation Project

The road lacks essential traffic safety elements (Photo by SPA)
The road lacks essential traffic safety elements (Photo by SPA)
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SDRPY Accelerates Work on Yemen's Heijat Al-Abed Road Rehabilitation Project

The road lacks essential traffic safety elements (Photo by SPA)
The road lacks essential traffic safety elements (Photo by SPA)

The rehabilitation project for Heijat Al-Abed Road, a vital route connecting Taiz with other governorates, is progressing rapidly under the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY). This road is crucial for the lives of 5 million Yemenis, and the project aims to improve its efficiency, implement safety measures, reduce accidents, and alleviate the daily challenges faced by commuters, SPA reported.
Rehabilitating this essential road will ensure safe traffic flow and facilitate the movement of people and goods, including essential supplies like food and medicine, while reducing costs and travel time. Additionally, the project will create immediate employment opportunities and benefit various sectors, including the economy, services, education, and more.
With a significant elevation difference of 1,000 meters from the highest to the lowest point, the road lacks essential traffic safety elements, such as concrete barriers for vehicle protection, and is prone to rockfalls.
Rehabilitating the rain drainage system and constructing new drainage channels are also essential to prevent water penetration into the road pavement layers.

This project is part of 229 projects and initiatives implemented by SDRPY across various Yemeni governorates. These initiatives serve the Yemeni people in key sectors, including education, healthcare, water, energy, transportation, agriculture and fisheries, development and support of Yemeni government capacities, and developmental programs.



Multiple Injuries Reported after Fireworks Veer into Crowd at Utah Stadium

A view of the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks show over the Empire State Building in New York City, as seen from Hoboken, N.J. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)
A view of the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks show over the Empire State Building in New York City, as seen from Hoboken, N.J. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)
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Multiple Injuries Reported after Fireworks Veer into Crowd at Utah Stadium

A view of the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks show over the Empire State Building in New York City, as seen from Hoboken, N.J. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)
A view of the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks show over the Empire State Building in New York City, as seen from Hoboken, N.J. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)

Malfunctioning fireworks veered into the stands at a crowded Utah football stadium and struck members of the audience during a Fourth of July celebration, sending up to six people to the hospital, according to authorities and the event organizer.

The accident occurred during the opening ceremonies of the Stadium of Fire show, the flagship event at Provo's annual Freedom Festival at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Brigham Young University, The AP reported.

Organizers halted the show for about 15 minutes while injured audience members received medical attention, said Freedom Festival spokesperson Emory Cook.

Six people were taken to the hospital, Cook said, but the number struck by fireworks and the severity of their injuries was not immediately available.

The cause of the mishap — which involved fireworks shot off inside the stadium as several jets passed overhead — is under investigation by local authorities.

Videos posted on social media show individual fireworks veering off from the cluster sent into the sky over the field and landing among rows of spectators in the stands at the outdoor arena. About 45,000 people attended the sold-out show, Cook said.

“Definitely a firework malfunctioned, but we're still trying to figure out how that happened,” Cook said.

Fire department personnel and paramedics were on scene when the show started and were able to reach the injured audience members within a minute, said Provo Fire and Rescue spokesperson Jeanie Atherton.

She said her department transported only one person to the hospital but that other victims might have gone by personal vehicles.

The fireworks that malfunctioned inside the stadium were relatively small compared to the large pyrotechnics that are used during the show’s finale, Cook said. Those larger fireworks are kept outside the stadium, he said.

Following the accident, the BYU Police Department allowed organizers to proceed with the event, which featured the Jonas Brothers, KUTV reported.