Chronology of the Al Hidayah Tower Hotel Fire in Makkah: Indonesian Hajj Pilgrims Safe

All Indonesian Hajj pilgrims residing in the Al Hidayah Tower Hotel complex, located in the Aziziah area of Makkah, have been confirmed safe and unharmed following a fire that broke out in one of the accommodation rooms on Friday (5/6) at approximately 18:00 Saudi Arabian Time (AST).

Ihsan Faisal, Head of the Makkah Working Area for the Indonesian Hajj Organising Committee (PPIH) in Saudi Arabia, emphasised that no Indonesian pilgrims suffered injuries or fatalities in the incident, which had caused temporary panic. “What we need to ensure is that none of our pilgrims were injured or otherwise affected. Therefore, God willing, all our pilgrims in Sector 10 are safe,” Ihsan stated in Makkah on Saturday (6/6).

According to investigations by Hajj officials in Sector 10, the fire first appeared in a hotel staff room in the front area of Tower 7. The fire was strongly suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit during the charging of an electronic scooter battery belonging to a hotel employee, which had been left plugged in. “It is possible that the incident was caused by overheating, leading the battery to explode, which released flames and ignited items within the room,” Ihsan explained.

Hotel management immediately contacted the local fire department, which deployed three fire engines to the scene. Following emergency protocols (SOP), Hajj officials and hotel management evacuated pilgrims from Towers 6, 7, and 8 via emergency staircases, as the automatic lift system had been deactivated. Pilgrims from the Banten, Padang, and Banjarmasin embarkation groups staying in Towers 6, 7, and 8 were evacuated due to smoke spread; however, the situation was declared stable by 20:00 AST.

Once the fire was completely extinguished by firefighters, pilgrims were permitted to return to their respective rooms. Ihsan added that at the time of the incident, the hotel’s occupancy had already decreased as some pilgrims had begun their return journey to Indonesia.

In response to the incident, the PPIH Saudi Arabia has urged all Hajj pilgrims to be more vigilant when using electronic devices, particularly amidst the extreme heat in Saudi Arabia. “If they are no longer in use, it is better to unplug them—phone chargers and so on. If they are not being used, it is best to unplug them to avoid the risk of fire,” he concluded.