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MAKKAH – A Turkish Umrah pilgrim died and an Indian man was seriously injured when scaffolding at works in Makkahs central zone collapsed Wednesday. A Civil Defense spokesman said an investigation had been opened into why the three-meter high wooden structure next to the Grand Mosque collapsed onto pilgrims in the street below. “The Turkish man was taken to hospital by the Red Crescent but passed away shortly after his arrival,” said spokesman Ali Al-Muntashari. “The Indian man, also a pilgrim, is still in hospital and his condition is serious.” – Okaz/SG

ARAR – A fire at a book store room in a girls school in Arar on Saturday led to a rush out of the building in which 11 pupils were injured, Al-Hayat Arabic daily reported Sunday. School authorities called the Civil Defense who ordered an evacuation of the school complex, while a Red Crescent official said out of 11 pupils who suffered smoke inhalation six were treated at the scene and five were taken to hospital. All five were reported as in a stable condition. – SG

AL-BAHA – Five people sustained injuries in a five-car pileup in Rahwat Al-Birr in Al-Baha Region on Friday and were moved to King Fahd Hospital. A source at the Traffic Department attributed the accident to speeding. In another accident, a pregnant woman was injured in a head-on collision between two cars. Red Crescent and traffic patrol teams rushed to the scene and moved the pregnant woman to the hospital. In Al-Eid Triangle on Mahayil Asir Road, six people were injured as two cars collided head-on. – Okaz/SG

HAIL – A 49-year-old woman died on Tuesday when she fell into a home water reservoir tank in the village of Rai Al-Bikr in the south of Hail. Divers and Red Crescent teams arrived at the scene to extract the woman from the tank but were unable to revive her. Police are investigating. – Okaz/SG

TAIF: A man was killed and 22 passengers were injured in a pileup involving a bus carrying 50 pilgrims, seven cars and a small truck, on Al-Sayel highway outside Taif city on Thursday. There were 15 other vehicles involved in the accident.

Ten people were treated at the scene but did not have to go to hospital.

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Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Riyadh region, received Wednesday head and members of the Friends Committee of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority, who came to greet him on the occasion of his return to the country and recovery of Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation, and Inspector General. Prince Salman was briefed on the activities of the committee and its role in providing community services. – SPA

JEDDAH – Circumstances surrounding two reportedly ill school girls and a headmistress who allegedly prevented officials from accessing the premises on Monday remain murky in the extreme, with declarations contradictory and diagnoses ranging from drug overdoses to black magic.

The Assistant Manager of Jeddahs Girls Education, Ahmed Al-Hariri, said there was no truth in rumors that directorate officials were denied access when called to deal with a short circuit and prevent a fire.

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JEDDAH – A female school principal refused to allow male rescue teams onto the school-grounds after a student had an epileptic attack, and other students fainted at the sight of their fellow classmate in such distress.

Ahmad Al-Hariri, assistant director of the Girls Education Department in Jeddah, confirmed that one student had an epileptic fit and that others had fainted.

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JEDDAH – The Red Crescent Authority in the Makkah region was able to deal with 199 calls for help in the wake of Jeddahs floods.

Dr. Khalid Al-Habshi, Director of the General Administration for the Saudi Red Crescent Authority in the Makkah region, said the authority was able to deal effectively with the emergency calls.

“We implemented the support system from our off-duty manpower when the disaster took place. We also summoned the Makkah ambulatory support teams, [which were] on secondment outside the Makkah Region, to help to contain the disaster.”

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TAIF: Twenty-three people were injured and about 60 shops gutted in a fire in Al-Salam market close to Taif University campus in Hawiya, Taif, an official said on Sunday.

The fire broke out at 12:31 p.m. Sunday. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The efforts to assess the losses are also underway, spokesman of Taif Civil Defense Col. Abdullah Al-Thaqfi said in a statement.

A state of emergency was declared in Taif hospitals when the report of the fire was received and six medical teams were sent to help the Red Crescent. Six of the cases were admitted to hospital while the remaining were allowed to go after first aid, said spokesman of the Health Department Saeed Al-Zahrani.