A tragic fire, caused by a mobile phone charger, claimed the lives of seven family members in Hofuf, Al-Ahsa governorate, Saudi Arabia. The devastating incident occurred last Monday when a charger, left connected to a power source, melted and ignited a fire that quickly spread throughout the two-story house.
The victims included six siblings — Laila Hussein Al-Jibran, Iman Hussein, Latifa Hussein, Ahmed Hussein, Reda Hussein, and Abdul-Ilah Hussein — and their nephew, Hussein Ali Al-Jibran. Latifa Hussein, who had recently signed her marriage contract, was set to be wed within 72 hours. The family members were laid to rest in a somber ceremony attended by a large gathering of mourners.
According to the family’s uncle, Sadiq Al-Jibran, the fire began when the charger melted, igniting a sofa in one of the rooms. The flames quickly spread to the ceiling, consuming the house in a matter of moments. Haider Al-Hassan, another relative, explained that despite efforts to control the blaze, it escalated too rapidly to be contained.
The father, Hussein Al-Jibran, noticed thick smoke and attempted to evacuate his family. However, he lost his balance and fell. His son Basil managed to rescue him and their mother, who was later hospitalized and is now recovering. Tragically, the other family members succumbed to smoke inhalation as the toxic fumes spread through the house. None of the victims suffered burns; suffocation was the cause of death.
Civil Defense teams responded swiftly and worked tirelessly to extinguish the fire, but they were unable to rescue the trapped family members. The tragedy has deeply shaken the local community, with relatives and neighbors mourning the devastating loss.
