Bangladeshi pilgrims evacuated after hotel fire

A fire broke out early Monday in a 19-story hotel in Ibrahim Al-Khalil Street in Makkah, the Civil Defense announced. It said the hotel was occupied by pilgrims from Bangladesh who were all safely evacuated.

Civil Defense spokesman Maj. Naif Al-Sharif said no one was injured in the fire or during the evacuation.

He said the fire started from a split air-conditioner in a room on the 10th floor but was quickly quenched by the fire brigade.

The spokesman said the cause of the fire was being investigated.