Hajj Organisers Confirm No Indonesian Pilgrims Injured in Al Hidayah Tower Fire in Makkah

Makkah (ANTARA) - The Head of the Indonesian Hajj Organising Committee (PPIH) in Saudi Arabia, Ihsan Faisal, has ensured that no Indonesian pilgrims were victims of death or injury in the fire incident that occurred at the Al Hidayah Tower complex in Aziziah, Makkah. “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,” said Ihsan in Makkah on Saturday.

The fire incident occurred on Friday (6/6) at approximately 18:00 Saudi Arabian Time (AST), one hour before Maghrib. At the time, several members of the Indonesian Hajj group reported seeing plumes of smoke in front of Tower 7. “Hotel employees were charging scooter batteries. It is suspected that due to overheating, the battery exploded, causing flames and burning items within the room,” Ihsan explained.

Following the incident, the hotel management immediately contacted the fire department. Three fire engines from Makkah were deployed to the location. In accordance with standard operating procedures (SOP) for emergencies, Hajj officials from Sector 10, alongside hotel management, immediately evacuated pilgrims in Towers 6, 7, and 8 via emergency staircases. The evacuation was carried out because smoke had begun to spread and hotel lifts were deactivated for safety reasons. The evacuated pilgrims were subsequently permitted to return to their respective rooms safely.

At the time of the incident, the Al Hidayah Tower complex, which falls within the Sector 10 area, was not at full capacity with pilgrims from the Banten, Padang, and Banjarmasin embarkation groups, as several flight groups had already departed for Indonesia. As a precautionary measure, Ihsan urged all pilgrims to be more vigilant when using electrical and electronic devices in their rooms. “If they are no longer in use, it is better to unplug them, such as water heaters, rice cookers, or mobile phone chargers. The potential risk of fire in Makkah is increasing due to the extremely hot outdoor weather,” Ihsan added.