RIYADH // A fire broke out Saturday at a hotel housing pilgrims in western Saudi Arabia, killing at least 15 people and injuring 130, according to authorities in the kingdom.
The blaze started in the afternoon in the eastern part of the holy city of Medina at a hotel where pilgrims were staying, according to a statement issued by the local governorate.
It gave no indication of the identities of the victims, though about 700 people of different nationalities were staying at the hotel.
Preliminary indications suggest that those killed died of suffocation, the statement said. It is not yet clear how the fire began.
A nearby hotel was evacuated as a precaution as firefighters battled the blaze.
Five Egyptians including two children were among the dead, Adel Al Alfi, the Egyptian consul general in the western Saudi city of Jiddah, told the Associated Press. He said most of those injured were also Egyptians.
Medina is a major destination for Muslims. The city is the burial site of the Prophet Mohammed and is Islam’s second holiest city after Mecca.
* Associated Press
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THE BIO:
Sabri Razouk, 74
Athlete and fitness trainer
Married, father of six
Favourite exercise: Bench press
Must-eat weekly meal: Steak with beans, carrots, broccoli, crust and corn
Power drink: A glass of yoghurt
Role model: Any good man
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
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