RIYADH — Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal has joined a large number of Saudis in offering condolences to Saudi fencing coach Captain Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Obaid on the tragic death of his four children in a fire accident. The horrific fire broke out in the family home of Cap. Al-Obaid, the coach of Al-Adalah Club's fencing team, while the children were sleeping at around 11 pm on Friday in Al-Omran town of Al-Ahsa governorate in the Eastern Province. A large number of Saudis, including social media users, expressed their grief over the terrible tragedy that afflicted the family of Al-Obaid. They offered their sincere condolences and sympathy to Al-Obaid, asking God Almighty to bestow them His mercy and forgiveness as well as patience and solace to the bereaved family members. The fire broke out from the ground floor and then quickly spread to the second floor where the children were sleeping in the family's apartment. Cap. Ali Al-Obaid said that the fire was apparently caused by an electric short circuit. The smoke that billowed out of the fire caused the children to suffocate during their sleeping. "The tragedy is God's will, and we have no choice but to accept it," he said while praying for courage, patience and solace to bear with the loss. Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, Ali Al-Obaid, cousin of the victims, said that the horrific incident occurred when Cap. Ali Al-Obaid and his wife went out of their apartment for an emergency purpose. "They left home after taking dinner with their children and reassuring their safety. They returned home an hour later to witness the shocking scene of their apartment engulfed in fire, and smoke billowing out of windows," he pointed out. All the four children were within 10 years of age. Heba is the eldest with 10 years while Hussein is nine, Lian two and Rahaf, the youngest, aged one. All of them died instantly. According to sources, the fire was caused apparently by a short circuit from power plug of an air conditioner. Khaleel Ibrahim Al-Obaid, uncle of the deceased children, said that the loss is so much irreparable and heavy for the members of their family and relatives as well as for the villagers. Cap. Ali Al-Obaid and other family members are holding fast to patience and solace, believing in God's destiny and reward, he said. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian Fencing Federation offered its condolences to coach Ali Al-Obaid. In a statement on its official Twitter account, the federation expressed sincere condolences and sympathy, asking God to bestow his four sons with mercy and accommodate them in Paradise. For their part, chairman and members of the Board of Directors of Al-Adalah Club and all its employees offered their sincere condolences to Al-Obaid, the club's fencing team coach. In a related incident, the Civil Defense teams in Al-Ahsa reported a separate fire accident that occurred in a house in the village of Abu Thawr, which resulted in injuries to four people. They were transferred to a nearby hospital to receive the necessary treatment.
