A devastating fire, triggered by a mobile phone charger, claimed the lives of seven members of a family in Hofuf, located in Al-Ahsa governorate of Saudi Arabia.
The incident occurred last Monday when a charger left connected to electricity ignited, leading to a catastrophic blaze.
The victims included six siblings -- Laila Hussein Al-Jibran, Iman Hussein, Latifa Hussein, Ahmed Hussein, Reda Hussein, Abdul-Ilah Hussein -- and their nephew, Hussein Ali Al-Jibran. Among them was Latifa Hussein, a bride whose marriage contract had been signed just days earlier, with her wedding planned within 72 hours. The family members were laid to rest in the presence of a large gathering.
According to the victims' uncle, Sadiq Al-Jibran, the fire started when the charger melted and ignited a sofa in one of the rooms. The flames quickly spread to the ceiling and engulfed the entire two-story house. Haider Al-Hassan, a relative of the family, explained that the fire began when the melting charger caused the furniture to catch fire. Despite attempts to control the flames, the fire rapidly escalated.
When the father, Hussein Al-Jibran, noticed thick smoke, he tried to save his family by opening doors to evacuate them. However, he lost his balance and fell. His son Basil managed to rescue him and their mother, who later received medical care and has since improved.
Unfortunately, the toxic smoke spread swiftly through the house, seeping into closed rooms and causing suffocation. None of the victims suffered burns; all fatalities were due to smoke inhalation.
Although Civil Defense teams responded promptly and worked diligently to extinguish the fire, they were unable to save the trapped family members. The incident has left the community in deep mourning, with relatives and neighbors expressing their grief over the tragic loss.
