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Electrical fire at Saudi wedding kills 25

At least 25 people have died and 30 others were hurt in a fire at a wedding in eastern Saudi Arabia, the BBC reports.

Hundreds were inside the courtyard of a home in the village of Ain Badr, in the Abqaiq region, when the blaze began.

A high-voltage power line reportedly fell down and sent sparks flying after it was hit by celebratory gunfire.

The power line is also believed to have touched a metal door at the only exit from the courtyard, causing the electrocution of many of the victims.

Most of those killed and injured are reported to have been women. The local newspaper al-Youm cited Civil Defence chief Gen Abdullah Khsheiman as saying a women-only marquee was set on fire.

Women are separated from men at weddings in Saudi Arabia in line with the kingdom’s strict rules on gender segregation.

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