Saudi Arabian: At least nine Bangladeshis were killed in a fire at a residential building occupied by expatriate workers in Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh on Friday, reports the UNB.

Confirming the incident, Golam Moshi, Bangladesh Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia authority said, ‘Two officers have visited the hospital where the bodies are kept.’

They names of the diseased will be disclosed to media after confirming the identities to avoid panic or confusion, he added.

The fire broke out at the entrance of the building in Al-Tuwaiq neighbourhood which has no other exists, said Maj Mohammed Al Hamadi, spokesman of the civil defense in Riyadh.

Smoke inhalation is the main cause of death and injury, he added.

According to the spokesman, 45 out of the 54 expatriate workers living in the two-storey building were inside it during the fire.

An investigation has been launched to look into the cause of the fire, he said.