DUBAI/KUWAIT CITY: A massive fire broke out early Wednesday at a high-rise building in Kuwait that housed foreign workers, mostly Indians, killing at least 49 people and injuring more than 50 others, according to officials. .
He reported that most of the deaths were caused by smoke while residents were sleeping, and a large number of occupants were evacuated.
The fire broke out in the kitchen of a six-story building in the Mangaf area of Kuwait's southern Ahmadi governorate, officials said, adding that the building reportedly housed about 200 people, who are employees of a single company. The Kuwait Times newspaper reported. The death toll from the tragic fire has reached 49, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said Criminal Evidence Department personnel are currently working at the scene to identify the victims and uncover the cause of the fire and said strict action will be taken against building owners who violate the law.Major General Eid al-Owaihan, head of the Interior Ministry's General Department of Criminal Evidence, said, "Unfortunately, we received information about the fire in the Mangaf area at exactly 6:00 am (0830 IST) in the morning."Most of the dead were from Kerala, Tamil Nadu. and were Indian citizens from North Indian states. The English daily Arab Times quoted him as saying that his age was between 20 and 50 years.
This building is taken on rent by NBTC Group.
Sources said that five firefighters were injured during the rescue operation."In connection with the tragic fire accident involving Indian workers today, the Embassy has set up an emergency helpline number: +965-65505246. All concerned are requested to connect with this helpline for updates. The Embassy will provide all possible assistance Committed to providing." The Indian Embassy in Kuwait said in a post on Twitter.
Indians constitute 21 percent of Kuwait's total population (1 million) and 30 percent of its workforce (about 9 lakh)."The incident of fire in Kuwait City is tragic. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover as soon as possible. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation. and is working with the authorities." There to assist the affected,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter.On the instructions of Prime Minister Modi, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh is visiting Kuwait to oversee the assistance to Indians injured in the fire and ensure early repatriation of the bodies of those killed.
"Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait City. Over 40 people have reportedly died and over 50 have been hospitalised," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a statement. Our ambassadors have gone to the camp and are waiting for further information." Post on
He said, "Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives. I wish a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured. Our Embassy will provide all assistance to all concerned in this regard." Indian Ambassador Adarsh Swaika visited the site of the fire incident and later the hospitals where more than 50 Indian workers injured in today's fire incident have been admitted.
The Indian Mission said, "Ambassador @AdarshSwaika1 visited the site of the tragic fire-incident in Mangaf to ascertain the situation.The Embassy is in constant contact with relevant Kuwaiti law enforcement, fire service and health authorities for necessary action and emergency medical health care."
He visited Al-Adan Hospital where more than 30 Indian workers injured in the fire have been admitted. He met several patients and assured them of full assistance from the Embassy. The mission said hospital authorities described the condition of almost all of them as stable. Ambassador Swika also visited Farwaniya Hospital, where six injured workers, most likely to be Indians, were admitted.Hospital officials confirmed that 4 of them have been released, one has been shifted to Zahra hospital and the condition of one in the ward is reportedly stable, the Indian mission said in another post on Twitter.
He visited Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital, where 11 injured workers have been admitted. Ten of them are expected to be released today and the condition of one is reportedly stable in hospital. He met the hospitalized patients and assured them of the Embassy's full support.
"Ambassador @AdarshSwaika1 visits Zahra Hospital, where 6 workers injured in today's fire incident, believed to be Indians, have been admitted.His condition is reportedly stable. The other 6 are expected to be transferred from the Mangaf site to Zahra Hospital today," the Indian mission wrote on X. Kuwait's Emir, Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, on Wednesday asked authorities to investigate the massive fire. and vowed to hold accountable those responsible for the tragedy.
Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah expressed condolences over the deaths and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Sheikh Fahd al-Yousef al-Sabah, who serves as first deputy prime minister, interior minister and defense minister, has ordered police to arrest the owner of the Mangaf building where the deadly explosion occurred on Wednesday, as well as the building's janitor. Was also arrested.According to Kuwait Times report, the company's owners are responsible for the workers until the investigation of the incident is completed by criminal evidence personnel. After visiting the site of the fire, the minister said in a statement, "What happened today is a responsibility of the company and The building is a result of the greed of the owners."
He said he has ordered the Kuwait Municipality and the Public Authority for Manpower to initiate immediate action to address similar violations, where large numbers of workers are crammed into a residential building, and ensure That all safety requirements for such prevention apply. Events occurring in the future.
Engineer Saud Al-Dabbous, Director General of Kuwait Municipality, suspended several key officials, including the deputy director general of Hawali and Al-Ahmadi Administrative Affairs, the acting director of the Al-Ahmadi Municipality branch, the director of audit. -up, and the engineering department, and head of the violation prevention department at Al-Ahmadi, the Arab Times daily reported."These suspensions were made in the interest of public safety pending the completion of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident," the newspaper said.
Eyewitnesses said that the spectators were scared after seeing the building in flames. An eyewitness recalled the incident where a resident employee jumped from the fifth floor and met his tragic end after hitting the edge of the balcony.
He reported that most of the deaths were caused by smoke while residents were sleeping, and a large number of occupants were evacuated.
The fire broke out in the kitchen of a six-story building in the Mangaf area of Kuwait's southern Ahmadi governorate, officials said, adding that the building reportedly housed about 200 people, who are employees of a single company. The Kuwait Times newspaper reported. The death toll from the tragic fire has reached 49, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said Criminal Evidence Department personnel are currently working at the scene to identify the victims and uncover the cause of the fire and said strict action will be taken against building owners who violate the law.Major General Eid al-Owaihan, head of the Interior Ministry's General Department of Criminal Evidence, said, "Unfortunately, we received information about the fire in the Mangaf area at exactly 6:00 am (0830 IST) in the morning."Most of the dead were from Kerala, Tamil Nadu. and were Indian citizens from North Indian states. The English daily Arab Times quoted him as saying that his age was between 20 and 50 years.
This building is taken on rent by NBTC Group.
Sources said that five firefighters were injured during the rescue operation."In connection with the tragic fire accident involving Indian workers today, the Embassy has set up an emergency helpline number: +965-65505246. All concerned are requested to connect with this helpline for updates. The Embassy will provide all possible assistance Committed to providing." The Indian Embassy in Kuwait said in a post on Twitter.
Indians constitute 21 percent of Kuwait's total population (1 million) and 30 percent of its workforce (about 9 lakh)."The incident of fire in Kuwait City is tragic. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover as soon as possible. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation. and is working with the authorities." There to assist the affected,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter.On the instructions of Prime Minister Modi, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh is visiting Kuwait to oversee the assistance to Indians injured in the fire and ensure early repatriation of the bodies of those killed.
"Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait City. Over 40 people have reportedly died and over 50 have been hospitalised," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a statement. Our ambassadors have gone to the camp and are waiting for further information." Post on
He said, "Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives. I wish a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured. Our Embassy will provide all assistance to all concerned in this regard." Indian Ambassador Adarsh Swaika visited the site of the fire incident and later the hospitals where more than 50 Indian workers injured in today's fire incident have been admitted.
The Indian Mission said, "Ambassador @AdarshSwaika1 visited the site of the tragic fire-incident in Mangaf to ascertain the situation.The Embassy is in constant contact with relevant Kuwaiti law enforcement, fire service and health authorities for necessary action and emergency medical health care."
He visited Al-Adan Hospital where more than 30 Indian workers injured in the fire have been admitted. He met several patients and assured them of full assistance from the Embassy. The mission said hospital authorities described the condition of almost all of them as stable. Ambassador Swika also visited Farwaniya Hospital, where six injured workers, most likely to be Indians, were admitted.Hospital officials confirmed that 4 of them have been released, one has been shifted to Zahra hospital and the condition of one in the ward is reportedly stable, the Indian mission said in another post on Twitter.
He visited Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital, where 11 injured workers have been admitted. Ten of them are expected to be released today and the condition of one is reportedly stable in hospital. He met the hospitalized patients and assured them of the Embassy's full support.
"Ambassador @AdarshSwaika1 visits Zahra Hospital, where 6 workers injured in today's fire incident, believed to be Indians, have been admitted.His condition is reportedly stable. The other 6 are expected to be transferred from the Mangaf site to Zahra Hospital today," the Indian mission wrote on X. Kuwait's Emir, Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, on Wednesday asked authorities to investigate the massive fire. and vowed to hold accountable those responsible for the tragedy.
Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah expressed condolences over the deaths and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Sheikh Fahd al-Yousef al-Sabah, who serves as first deputy prime minister, interior minister and defense minister, has ordered police to arrest the owner of the Mangaf building where the deadly explosion occurred on Wednesday, as well as the building's janitor. Was also arrested.According to Kuwait Times report, the company's owners are responsible for the workers until the investigation of the incident is completed by criminal evidence personnel. After visiting the site of the fire, the minister said in a statement, "What happened today is a responsibility of the company and The building is a result of the greed of the owners."
He said he has ordered the Kuwait Municipality and the Public Authority for Manpower to initiate immediate action to address similar violations, where large numbers of workers are crammed into a residential building, and ensure That all safety requirements for such prevention apply. Events occurring in the future.
Engineer Saud Al-Dabbous, Director General of Kuwait Municipality, suspended several key officials, including the deputy director general of Hawali and Al-Ahmadi Administrative Affairs, the acting director of the Al-Ahmadi Municipality branch, the director of audit. -up, and the engineering department, and head of the violation prevention department at Al-Ahmadi, the Arab Times daily reported."These suspensions were made in the interest of public safety pending the completion of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident," the newspaper said.
Eyewitnesses said that the spectators were scared after seeing the building in flames. An eyewitness recalled the incident where a resident employee jumped from the fifth floor and met his tragic end after hitting the edge of the balcony.
