New details have emerged from the family of the victims of a devastating house fire in Al-Laqiyah village, in Samtah Governorate in Saudi Arabia’s Jazan region, which claimed the lives of a pregnant mother and her four children.
The father remains in intensive care after suffering severe smoke inhalation.
Mohammed Mahnashi, the victims’ uncle, told Al Arabiya that preliminary indications suggest the fire may have been caused by an electrical fault in one of the home’s connections. However, he stressed that the official cause remains subject to the findings of the ongoing technical investigation.
Thick Smoke Hampered Rescue Efforts
Mahnashi said he rushed to the family’s home after being informed about the fire and found thick smoke pouring from the property.
Civil Defense and Saudi Red Crescent teams responded to the incident and attempted to reach the family, but the heavy smoke inside the house severely complicated rescue efforts.
Children Found in Different Parts of the House
According to the uncle, the children were found in different locations inside the property. Some were discovered on their beds, while others were found in a corner of the house.
The father was reportedly found unconscious near a wall after suffering severe smoke inhalation.
Initial indications suggest that family members may have been asleep when the fire started, or that their calls for help could not be heard outside because the house was tightly closed.
Mother and Four Children Die
The fire ultimately claimed the lives of the mother and all four children.
The father and his daughter Kayan were initially transported to hospital, but the girl later died from her injuries, bringing the death toll to five.
The Jazan Health Cluster had previously said Samtah General Hospital received six cases following the fire, including five fatalities. The 43-year-old father arrived after suffering cardiac arrest and underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation before being transferred to King Fahd Hospital in Jazan.
Father Remains in Intensive Care
A family relative told Al Arabiya that the father remains under intensive medical care at King Fahd Hospital.
According to the available information, the fire broke out shortly before 5 p.m., with preliminary findings indicating that the victims died from smoke inhalation.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to establish the official cause of the fire. The possibility of an electrical fault currently remains a family member’s preliminary assessment and has not yet been confirmed by investigators.
