Saad Al-Shamrani

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — About 37 students sustained either suffocation or mild injuries in a fire that broke out in the Princess Noura Bint Abdurahman University (PNU) campus here, Tuesday morning.



Civil Defense units and other rescue teams, who swung into action immediately, contained the fire in a short time.



“The situation is fully under control,” said Capt. Muhammad Al-Hammadi, spokesman of Civil Defense in Riyadh.



As the fire raged and attempts were made to extinguish it, seven female cleaning workers were trapped inside an elevator for two hours.



Riyadh Emir Prince Khaled Bin Bandar and Deputy Emir Prince Turki Bin Abdullah visited the campus and left it only after the situation was brought under control.



Al-Hammadi said the fire was first noticed at an electric extension on the second floor of the campus building. Students panicked and ran out of the building before several units of Civil Defense and other rescue teams arrived at the scene.



Saeed Al-Ghamdi, spokesman of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority, told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that 27 students were given first aid at the scene while the remaining students were taken to the university hospital and Abanmi Hospital.



Ayesha, a student, said that a short circuit was the reason for the fire while Huda Al-Shamrani alleged that the university authorities failed in handling the situation properly. “They opened only gate No. 3 and the security guards prevented students from escaping until students themselves broke open other gates,” she said.