Mukalla — A large fire broke out on Saturday evening at one of the main buildings of Hadhramaut University in the coastal city of Mukalla, causing extensive damage and prompting emergency response teams to evacuate the area.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing thick plumes of smoke rising from the university’s science faculty building shortly after 8:30 p.m. local time. Firefighters and civil defense units rushed to the scene and battled the blaze for several hours before bringing it under control.

University officials expressed deep concern over the incident, noting that the affected building housed critical laboratories and academic resources. Classes have been suspended until further notice, and damage assessments are currently underway.

The fire marks one of the most serious incidents to affect an educational institution in Mukalla in recent years, raising concerns about infrastructure safety and emergency preparedness across public facilities.