A luxury chalet located on Al Dar Islands, one of Bahrain’s most popular short getaway destinations, was badly damaged by fire on Friday as beach lovers watched on as the drama unfolded.
A weekend visitor captured the incident on camera and watched as the island’s staff members tackled the fire which is believed to have started in the kitchen area. Fire crews from the mainland turned up later but the situation had been dealt with.
No one was injured and it is understood that an Indian expat family staying in the accommodation raised the alarm. An investigation is currently underway into the cause of the fire. The resort’s manager Bader Sameer Hasan Kadhem declined to comment.
Al Dar Islands is one of the kingdom’s natural beaches and is a short boat ride from Sitra Fisherman’s Port.
The island is popular with visitors who want to enjoy the sandy beach, play in the surf, swim and snorkel around its artificial reef. It also has a restaurant, family kid’s zone, jet skis, water sports and sailing boats offering fishing and dolphin watching trips. Other sporting facilities include a gym, volleyball, basketball and a five-a-side football pitch.
There are huts that offer shade from the sun for day-trippers and BBQ areas and chalets for those staying overnight located at the far north end. The chalets, now numbering four, have their own 400m private beach with shallow waters.