A fire at a hotel in the Saudi holy city of Madinah on Saturday killed 15 pilgrims and injured 130 others, state-run news agency SPA reported.
Officials quoted by SPA did not identify the victims but said around 700 pilgrims had been staying at the hotel in the western city of Madinah to perform the 'umrah,' or minor, pilgrimage.
An earlier toll said 12 people were killed in the blaze.
Television stations in Egypt said Egyptians were among those who perished, and foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abdelatty said Cairo was "still trying to confirm the numbers" of nationals who died.
"The fire resulted in the death of 15 ... caused by fainting, choking, bleeding and cardiac arrest and breathing. We also treated 30 cases of suffocation due to the fire," Mohammed Mahmoud Kheyat, spokesman for the Saudi Red Crescent in Madinah, told the website.
The fire broke out in the afternoon and was brought under control a few hours later by more than 110 security personnel, with survivors moved to other hotels in the city.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the blaze but say maintenance work at the hotel may have led to an electric fire.
Madinah is a major religious destination for Muslims. The city is also the burial site of Prophet Mohammad SAW and is Islam's second holiest city after Mecca.
Once a year Muslims perform the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, but they can perform the umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia all year round.
Officials quoted by SPA did not identify the victims but said around 700 pilgrims had been staying at the hotel in the western city of Madinah to perform the 'umrah,' or minor, pilgrimage.
An earlier toll said 12 people were killed in the blaze.
Television stations in Egypt said Egyptians were among those who perished, and foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abdelatty said Cairo was "still trying to confirm the numbers" of nationals who died.
"The fire resulted in the death of 15 ... caused by fainting, choking, bleeding and cardiac arrest and breathing. We also treated 30 cases of suffocation due to the fire," Mohammed Mahmoud Kheyat, spokesman for the Saudi Red Crescent in Madinah, told the website.
The fire broke out in the afternoon and was brought under control a few hours later by more than 110 security personnel, with survivors moved to other hotels in the city.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the blaze but say maintenance work at the hotel may have led to an electric fire.
Madinah is a major religious destination for Muslims. The city is also the burial site of Prophet Mohammad SAW and is Islam's second holiest city after Mecca.
Once a year Muslims perform the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, but they can perform the umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia all year round.
