Two firefighters tragically lost their lives while fighting a massive blaze that swept through the Jeddah International Market, one of the oldest commercial hubs in the city. The fire, which erupted around 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, devastated large parts of the market located near Madinah Road in the Al-Rawdah district.
The Civil Defense Directorate confirmed in a statement on X that its forces successfully extinguished the fire after nearly 14 hours of intense firefighting. However, the blaze claimed the lives of firefighters Akram Jumaa Al-Johni and Abdullah Manahi Al-Subaie, who died from suffocation due to the lack of ventilation inside the burning complex.
Over 20 firefighting and rescue units from Jeddah and Makkah were deployed to combat the fire, which caused the collapse of the market’s facades at gates 1 and 4. Despite their efforts, much of the 40-year-old market, known for its numerous shops and stalls, was gutted. Cooling operations and thorough inspections are ongoing to ensure no remnants of the fire remain under the debris.
No civilians were present at the time of the fire, and authorities have imposed a security cordon around the area as investigations continue.
