World

Saudi official: Canadians, Pakistani and Nigerian among those killed in housing complex fire

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Firefighters go for a rest after putting out a fire at a multistory residential compound known as Radium that accommodates workers for state oil giant Saudi Aramco, in the eastern city of Khobar, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015. The fire broke out Sunday in the basement of the sprawling residential complex in Saudi Arabia's oil-rich east, killing at least 10 people and injuring more than 200, with some of the injured in critical condition, officials in the kingdom said. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

Firefighters rest after putting out a fire at a multistory residential compound known as Radium that accommodates workers for state oil giant Saudi Aramco, in the eastern city of Khobar, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015. The fire broke out Sunday in the basement of the sprawling residential complex in Saudi Arabia's oil-rich east, killing at least 10 people and injuring more than 200, with some of the injured in critical condition, officials in the kingdom said. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

Firefighters go for a rest after putting out a fire at a multistory residential compound known as Radium that accommodates workers for state oil giant Saudi Aramco, in the eastern city of Khobar, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015. The fire broke out Sunday in the basement of the sprawling residential complex in Saudi Arabia's oil-rich east, killing at least 10 people and injuring more than 200, with some of the injured in critical condition, officials in the kingdom said. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

A Saudi official says three Canadians, a Pakistani and a Nigerian were among those killed in a fire that engulfed parts of a residential compound in the kingdom's oil-rich east.

Regional civil defense spokesman Col. Ali bin Saad al-Qahtani also was quoted by the official Saudi Press Agency early Monday as saying that a total of 10 people died and 259 were injured in the blaze.

The civil defense directorate previously said 11 people were killed.

He says 179 of those injured have left the hospital after receiving treatment, and that a preliminary investigation suggests an electrical short circuit in the building's basement sparked the blaze.

The complex in the city of Khobar houses workers for state oil giant Saudi Aramco.