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Electrical fire at Saudi wedding kills 25 | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
At least 25 people have died and 30 others were hurt in a fire at a wedding in eastern Saudi Arabia, officials say. | |
Hundreds were inside the courtyard of a home in the village of Ain Badr, in the Abqaiq region, when the blaze began. | Hundreds were inside the courtyard of a home in the village of Ain Badr, in the Abqaiq region, when the blaze began. |
A high-voltage power line reportedly fell down and sent sparks flying after it was hit by celebratory gunfire. | A high-voltage power line reportedly fell down and sent sparks flying after it was hit by celebratory gunfire. |
The power line is also believed to have touched a metal door at the only exit from the courtyard, causing the electrocution of many of the victims. | |
Most of those killed and injured are reported to have been women. | |
The local newspaper al-Youm cited Civil Defence chief Gen Abdullah Khsheiman as saying a women-only marquee was set on fire. | |
Women are separated from men at weddings in Saudi Arabia in line with the kingdom's strict rules on gender segregation. | |
A photograph of the aftermath posted online showed a large courtyard strewn with chairs and a pole in the middle supporting strings of lights. | |
Survivors have been taken to the Aramco and Central Abqaiq hospitals. | Survivors have been taken to the Aramco and Central Abqaiq hospitals. |
Civil Defence spokesman Col Mohammed al-Ajami said the governor of Eastern Province, Prince Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdul Aziz, had ordered the authorities to investigate the incident. | |
The Saudi authorities last month banned the shooting of firearms at weddings - a popular tradition in tribal areas of the kingdom - according to the Reuters news agency. | |
In July 1999, 76 people died in a similar incident in Eastern Province. |
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