Riyadh: Sofa Factory Fire Kills 16 Bangladeshi Workers

Riyadh — Sixteen Bangladeshi migrant workers were killed when a fire broke out at a sofa factory in the Al-Safa industrial area of Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, the Bangladeshi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.
The ministry said the incident occurred on Sunday and that all victims died at the scene. Arrangements have been initiated to repatriate the bodies to Bangladesh as soon as possible. The ministry expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and urged Saudi authorities to conduct a full investigation and hold those responsible to account.
The blaze raises renewed concerns about industrial safety standards in Riyadh and the working conditions of migrant laborers. The incident is likely to prompt calls from local and international groups for stricter enforcement of safety regulations. Further details are expected from Saudi authorities and the Bangladeshi consulate.