The compound belongs to Mastoura Co. Ltd. and was being used to house employees, said an engineer who works for the company. “The fire razed some 20 portable cabins, which served as accommodation for workers who included about 50 Filipinos. The rest were from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Egypt and Pakistan,” said the engineer.
The company, which is based in Rahima, Ras Tanura in the Eastern Province, has branches in Onaizah, Buraidah and Al-Rass in Qasim province.
He added that the fire hit the workers’ accommodation while they were at work and that they were unable to salvage any of their personal belongings, including clothes, cell phones, computers and luggage.
“One of the victims was a Filipino foreman scheduled to go on vacation to the Philippines at the end of the month. He lost three cell phones, $600 and several pieces of baggage that he was about to send to the Philippines through a courier,” said the engineer.
One of the Filipino workers said the company has provided them temporary accommodation at the back of the compound. “Others have been transferred to other accommodations in Onaizah. The company has also given SR500 to each of the victims,” he said.
Mastoura Co. Ltd. is a subcontractor of the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC).
