According to several sources, a severe fire at a building in Kuwait’s southern Mangaf region has killed at least 41 people, including several Indians. Reportedly, the fire started early on Wednesday morning in a lower-floor kitchen and swiftly spread throughout the structure, trapping a large number of people inside.
According to the deputy prime minister of Kuwait, 41 individuals died in the incident, according to Reuters.
Five Keralites and ten Indian nationals were among the dead in the fire, according to Onmanorama. It is alleged that approximately 195 workers, including those from Tamil Nadu and Kerala, were lodged in the building. Onmanorama claims that Malayali businessman KG Abraham is the owner of the structure and that it is a part of the NBTC company.
The Indian envoy has visited the camp, according to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who also expressed dismay over the situation.
“I was very surprised to learn of Kuwait City’s fire tragedy. Nearly 40 people have reportedly died, and nearly 50 have been admitted to hospitals. Our envoy has left for the camp. We’re waiting for more details,” Jaishankar wrote on X.
“My sincere sympathies go out to the families of those who sadly passed away. I wish everyone who has been hurt an early and complete recovery. He continued, “Our Embassy will help everyone involved as much as possible in this regard.
Adarsh Swaika, the Indian ambassador to Kuwait, went to the location in Mangaf to check on the situation. Additionally, he went to the Al-Adan hospital, which is home to more than thirty Indian labourers who were hurt in the fire.
The Indian Embassy in Kuwait stated on X that “he met several patients and assured them of full assistance from the Embassy.”
“The Embassy has established an emergency helpline number, 965-65505246, about the sad fire incident that involved Indian workers today. For updates, we kindly ask everyone in question to get in touch with this helpline. The embassy is still dedicated to providing whatever assistance it can,” the Indian Embassy stated in another statement.
According to KUNA, the fire was contained, and investigators were scouring the region for clues regarding the fire’s origin.
“Workers were housed in the building where the fire broke out, and there were a lot of them there. Although many people died from smoke inhalation from the fire, several were saved, a senior police commander told on state TV.
He stated, “We always alert and warn against” packing too many workers into housing units, but he omitted to mention the nature of the jobs or the workers’ country of origin.
According to the Kuwait Times, Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah gave police the order to detain the building’s owner, the caretaker, and the proprietor of the business employing the workers.
As the minister visited the scene of the incident, he made a statement saying, “What happened today is a result of the company’s and building owners’ greed.”
The cause of the fire is reportedly being looked into, according to the authorities.
