Eyewitnesses said that firefighters prevented the fire from spreading beyond the ground floor as pilgrims were evacuated using cranes. Some took refuge on the roof of the eight-storey building. — File Photo by Reuters

RIYADH Over 720 Pakistani pilgrims were evacuated from an apartment block in the Kuday district of Makkah on Thursday after a fire broke out at the main entrance to the building.

Eyewitnesses said that firefighters prevented the fire from spreading beyond the ground floor as pilgrims were evacuated using cranes. Some took refuge on the roof of the eight-storey building.

No pilgrim was hurt in the incident, but the building's security guard reportedly suffered smoke inhalation. Sources said the incident was not being treated as suspicious.

Opinion

Editorial

Energy inflation
23 May, 2024

Energy inflation

ON Tuesday, the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority slashed the average prescribed gas prices of SNGPL by 10pc and...
Culture of violence
23 May, 2024

Culture of violence

WHILE political differences are part of the democratic process, there can be no justification for such disagreements...
Flooding threats
23 May, 2024

Flooding threats

WITH temperatures in GB and KP forecasted to be four to six degrees higher than normal this week, the threat of...
Bulldozed bill
Updated 22 May, 2024

Bulldozed bill

Where once the party was championing the people and their voices, it is now devising new means to silence them.
Out of the abyss
22 May, 2024

Out of the abyss

ENFORCED disappearances remain a persistent blight on fundamental human rights in the country. Recent exchanges...
Holding Israel accountable
22 May, 2024

Holding Israel accountable

ALTHOUGH the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor wants arrest warrants to be issued for Israel’s prime...