MANAMA, 20 February 2004 — Ten people were rescued from a 14-story commercial building in the capital after offices on the third floor caught fire at around 7 a.m. yesterday.
Of the 10 people, five were given treatment on the scene, two Bahraini women aged 26 and 29 were unhurt, and three Indians were taken to hospital.
Firefighters dissuaded a couple of people from jumping from the seventh floor as 17 fire engines and about 60 firefighters worked to contain the fire and rescue those trapped in the building.
The fire started in the offices of Tele-Gulf Directory Publications at the Bahrain Tower building in the Old Souq area after a ceiling lamp shorted out and caught fire.
A security guard attempted to put out the flames, but the fire spread, engulfing the office and endangering other offices and nearby buildings because of the strong winds.
It took firefighters about 45 minutes to contain the blaze.
Tele-Gulf Directory Publications Manager Marwa Al-Shoala told Arab News: “We have about 40 people working for us and we are waiting for the investigation to assess the damages.”
