A fire caused by an electrical short-circuit yesterday forced the evacuation of 700 girls from a Makkah middle school, Civil Defense officials said. Brig. Sarhan Al-Sarhan, spokesman for Civil Defense in Makkah, said the evacuation operations were mere preventive measures by the teachers.
“We found out that the cause of the fire was due to a short-circuit with the main cable that is providing the school with electricity.”
He said that as soon as the operation room at the Civil Defense received the report of fire, three firefighting teams, two rescue and ambulances teams, as well as two Red Crescent ambulances moved at once to the location.
The girls, between the ages of 13 to 15 years, initially panicked, but Civil Defense and Red Crescent members calmed them down.
Some girls required first aid assistance, but no serious causalities were reported. Lt. Majed Al-Juiad launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. Civil Defense officials did not identify the school.
700 girls rescued in Makkah school blaze
