Deadly hotel fire in Saudi Arabia kills 17, wounds 130
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Feb 09, 2014 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Feb 09, 2014 12:00 am
A fire erupted in Ishraq al-Madinah Hotel in Saudi Arabia's second holy city left 17 dead, 130 injured.
A fire that broke out in Ishraq al-Madinah Hotel in Medina left 17 people dead and 130 wounded late Saturday, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The SPA said the fire services immediately responded to the fire in the hotel, where 700 umrah pilgrimage visitors of different nationalities were staying.
Upon the orders of the Governor of Medina Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, the surrounding hotels were evacuated to prevent an escalation of the disaster.
Saudi fire brigades and civil defense teams managed to keep the fire under control after long hours of efforts. The wounded were taken to nearby hospitals.
No reports have yet been issued on the reason for the fire, but an investigation was reportedly launched.
Medina was hosting several Turkish umrah visitors, propelling an official from Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affair Nevzat Unal to launch a search in all the hospitals in the city following concerns Turkish citizens may have been among the wounded.
Al-Medina al-Munawwarah, "the Radiant City," is the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad and is the second holiest Islamic city after Mecca, home to the Kaaba.
Literally meaning "visit to a populated place," umrah is a Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca that can be performed at any time of the year.
While the hajj is the major pilgrimage and compulsory for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it, the umrah is not compulsory but highly recommended. It is sometimes called the "minor pilgrimage."
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