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.