A concrete slab bearing the name of an historic dilapidated building in Bahrain plunged three storeys to the ground pulverising vehicles in its path.
The heavy chunks of masonry bore the name of Bin Nooh Hostel in Naim and dated back to Ramadan in 1957. The area was once home to boat builders linked by legend to the Prophet Noah.
They crushed two parked vehicles leaving debris scattered across the road. No injuries were reported as the incident happened early yesterday morning.
A video clip circulating online showed the two damaged cars covered with concrete pieces that fell from the top of the 64-year-old building.
The property opposite Naim Health Centre was also once used as a nurses hostel and later rented out to families and traders, who eventually moved out due to its unsafe condition and an alleged lack of maintenance.
Police yesterday cordoned off the area, and workers set up a barricade with scaffoldings with the fate of the historical building still being undecided. There are calls for it to be both demolished and restored.
Capital Trustees Board chairman Saleh Tarradah told the GDN yesterday that the dilapidated property should come down as the authority had yet to receive any requests for permits, or general interest, related to its restoration.
“This building, for a very long period, has been in a sad state of repair. It was set to be demolished but the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca) would not allow that to happen as it wanted it restored,” said Mr Tarradah.
“In my opinion, it’s dangerous to have such poorly maintained buildings that pose a big risk to everyone.
“We are not against preserving traditional or historical properties and totally support the idea … but time is a key factor. It cannot be allowed to take too long.”
Mr Tarradah believes there were many similar properties in Manama requiring immediate repair before they endanger life or people’s property.
Baca official said yesterday it did not have information from the ‘concerned department’ to respond to GDN questions about the building.
However, sources confirmed that the authorities had planned to set up a special visitor centre by restoring the building to highlight the work of the generations of families in Naim involved in boat building.
Historically, Naim was the largest boatyard in Bahrain and in the Gulf, with several Bahraini families and their generation working in the sector.
It is believed that boat builders had inherited their craft from Noah – The Ark builder. He is a highly-important figure in Islam and is seen as one of the most significant of all prophets.
The Quran narrates that Noah received a revelation to build an Ark, after his people refused to believe in his message and hear the warning. The narrative goes on to describe that waters poured forth from the Heavens, destroying all the sinners.
Baca in the past has stopped owners from demolishing properties due to their historical significance, and has been at the forefront in the past few years of preserving historical buildings across the country.
The GDN previously reported that Baca had surveyed 550 properties in Blocks 301 to 303, 304 and 305 in Manama for a new preservation list.
The survey was conducted as Old Town Manama was added in 2019 to a tentative list to be considered for nomination for Unesco World Heritage Site status.
The town is considered one of the most important trade hubs in the region in the last 150 years.
Identified under the survey were Al Fadhel Mosque, the Shri Krishna Temple, the Baha’i Temple, Golf City, Fatema Alzahra Primary and Intermediate Schools, the old Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry building, Awal Building, and the former Canada Dry Building in Naim.
Other archaeological sites were the Oyster Plot, where shells and oysters still remain, the Alsafafeer (blacksmiths) site, and the original foundation of Almehz’aa Mosque.
sandy@gdn.com.bh
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