On Sunday, June 8, 2025, panic spread on the 19th floor of a hotel in Mecca housing Indonesian hajj pilgrims after a fire alarm suddenly blared loudly. Four pilgrims were caught smoking in their room, triggering the smoke detectors and causing all occupants to rush out in alarm.
The hotel staff promptly checked and confirmed there was no fire; only cigarette smoke had been detected by the automatic detection system. According to video footage shared on X by user @Icikiwwir, several elderly pilgrims were seen crying in fear due to the deafening alarm sound, with some even evacuating in minimal clothing.
Smoking inside hotel rooms not only violates safety regulations but also disrupts the comfort of other pilgrims. Some guests approached the smokers’ room to express their frustration directly. “The elderly were crying, I was crying too,” said a male pilgrim in the video, while a female pilgrim admonished, “Sir, you should step outside and see the consequences of your actions.”
The Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, through the Head of the Public Relations, Data, and Information Bureau, Akhmad Fauzin, reminded all hajj pilgrims to comply with hotel rules, including the prohibition of smoking inside rooms. He emphasized the importance of discipline to ensure comfort and collective safety during the hajj rituals.
This incident serves as a reminder of the critical awareness each individual must have regarding fire safety protocols, especially in high-rise buildings. Hotels in Mecca generally enforce strict anti-smoking policies to prevent fire risks and disturbances to other guests.
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