Five Pakistani workers perish in Riyadh fire

Civil Defense sources say fire broke out at a housing unit in Riyadh

At least five Pakistanis were killed when a fire erupted at a housing unit in Riyadh, Saudi newspaper Al Riyadh reported.

“Asian workers were killed and another injured in a fire that broke out in their residence in Riyadh on Friday morning,” the media report said quoting Civil Defense sources the newspaper reported.

However, it did not mention the nationality of the workers.

Local media reports added the workers were Pakistani and a short circuit was believed to be the reason behind the eruption of fire.

Saudi Red Crescent’s Abdullah Al-Meraibed said the five individuals died of smoke inhalation, according to Arab News.

The injured were taken to the National Guard Hospital in Riyadh.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the incident and issued directives to the Pakistani embassy in Saudi Arabia to shift the bodies as soon as possible.