The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says one casualty was recorded in a fire incident at a hotel for Nigerian pilgrims in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.
Fatima Usara, NAHCON’s assistant director of information and publications, said in a statement that the Imaratus Sanan Hotel, where the fire incident occurred, accommodates 484 Nigerian pilgrims.
Usara said the fire broke out at noon when Nigerian pilgrims were still in Mina fulfilling obligations after the Arafat day.
“NAHCON regrets to inform the public of a fire incident that occurred earlier Saturday around 12:00 noon (KSA time) at one of the hotels accommodating Nigerian pilgrims on Shari Mansur Street in Makkah,” the statement reads.
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“The affected hotel, Imaratus Sanan, was hosting about 484 pilgrims from six Nigerian private tour operator companies. Thankfully, no lives were lost, and all pilgrims are safely in Mina.
“Immediate emergency response by Saudi authorities and the hotel management helped to contain the fire swiftly and prevent it from spreading all over the building.”
Usara added that Abdullahi Saleh, the chairman of NAHCON, visited the scene of the fire incident to assess the situation and ensure that the welfare of the affected pilgrims is prioritised.
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She said the NAHCON chairman had ordered an immediate relocation of the affected pilgrims to a new accommodation and assured that the commission would provide every possible support within its capacity to cushion the impact of the incident.
He expressed thanks to Allah that no life was lost in the unfortunate incident.
The chairman and his team appreciated the prompt response of the Saudi emergency services and the cooperation of the hotel staff in managing the situation.
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