JEDDAH, 7 October 2007 — Seven men, all believed to be Bangladeshi nationals, burned to death yesterday afternoon when an illegal furniture-manufacturing workshop in south Jeddah’s Al-Khumra district caught fire.
The men lived in the workshop, which had a living area and three bedrooms, according to the Civil Defense. The identities and nationalities of the victims were still being verified yesterday.
Jeddah Civil Defense spokesman Capt. Abdullah Al-Amri said that the fire broke out at around 1 p.m. and that authorities were still searching the site for more bodies.
“The total number of people inside the site is not known,” Al-Amri told Arab News.
Six Civil Defense rescue teams were dispatched from the closest base of operations — about 20 km away — to extinguish the blaze, which consumed the entire building quickly because of the flammable materials used to make furniture.
The roof of the house collapsed before the fire could be brought under control. Firefighters reported having a difficult time entering the facility because the area was packed with furniture.
The victims of the blaze were trapped in the living area; four of the bodies were found in one bedroom with the others in a neighboring bedroom. Workers in the third bedroom managed to escape the fire and fled, but two of them were caught and questioned by Civil Defense officials who believe the factory was operating illegally and was employing workers who were living illegally in the Kingdom. The factory is located in a predominantly residential district.
An official source, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “Foul play has not been ruled out.”
The bodies were kept at the scene to allow forensic specialists to examine them on-site.
Many in the Kingdom celebrate Eid Al-Fitr by purchasing new furniture, which might explain why the workshop, which was about 30 by 20 meters, was crowded with products.
