More than 1,000 evacuated in Saudi hotel fire

Emergency officials in Saudi Arabia say more than 1,000 pilgrims are safely evacuated from a hotel in Mecca during a fire there ahead of the hajj pilgrimage.

Authorities say a blaze started Thursday on the eighth floor of an 11-story hotel in Mecca’s Aziziya neighborhood.

Saudi civil defense officials say two pilgrims are being treated for injuries from the fire.

The hajj is expected to start on Monday. More than 1 million pilgrims have already arrived for the annual pilgrimage, which all able-bodied Muslims are required to perform once in their lives.

The fire comes after a crane collapse in Mecca last Friday killed at least 111 people and injured more than 390.

— AP

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