Fire has razed the Imaratus Sanan Hotel in Mecca, a building accommodating over 480 Nigerian pilgrims performing the 2025 Hajj through private tour operators.
Imararus Sanan Hotel is located in the Sharamansur area of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
The inferno, which razed parts of the building on Saturday, caused significant damage. However, no life was lost in the incident.
The pilgrims were not present at the hotel at the time of the inferno, having departed earlier for Mina to partake in the symbolic stoning ritual, a central rite of the Hajj pilgrimage.
A statement by the spokesperson, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Fatima Usara, confirmed the incident, expressing gratitude for the swift response of Saudi fire services and hotel staff, whose efforts helped contain the fire and prevent any casualties.
NAHCON Chairman, Abdullahi Usman, has visited the site to assess the extent of the damage.
Visibly shaken by the destruction, Usman offered comfort to the affected pilgrims and commended the prompt intervention of local authorities.
“Our priority is the safety and comfort of our pilgrims. We have arranged immediate relocation to alternative accommodations and will provide every support within our capacity to minimise their distress,” he said.
