About 800 Umrah pilgrims were evacuated to safe places after a room of the hotel they were staying in caught fire in the central area of the holy city. Captain Saleh Al-Eleyani, spokesperson to the media at the Civil Defense Department in Makkah, said the fire, which started in a commercial advertising billboard spread to the cables covering an area of four square meters. He added that the fire was caused by a short circuit and was reported by some workers who spotted the flames. The Director General of Civil Defense called on all dwellers of towers and hotels to leave their rooms as soon as they hear fire alarms and to head for the nearest escape routes while maintaining their composure. – Okaz __
