JEDDAH, 26 April — Two massive fires took place in Jeddah and Makkah on Wednesday, but no one was hurt thanks to prompt action by the Civil Defense, press reports said.
In Jeddah, the fire broke out at the northern industrial city after an oil tanker overturned because its driver was speeding.
Col. Muhammad Al-Ghamdi, director of the Civil Defense Department in Jeddah, said the fires would have been disastrous if his officers had not acted promptly.
He added that the fire-fighting units brought the blaze under control before it spread to the nearby workshops.
In Makkah, a fire in a shoe shop was reported inside Al-Muddae market, located close to the Grand Mosque.
Three Civil Defense officers received treatment for smoke inhalation after they collapsed with breathing difficulties. The occupants of nearby hotels were evacuated as a precautionary measure.
A large number of traffic officers were deployed to redirect the traffic in the vicinity.
According to Al-Nadwah newspaper, the fire gutted many shops.
