Chaos as fire shuts down most MoI systems: report

(MENAFN- Arab Times) KUWAIT CITY April 7: Fire broke out in the building of General Department for Information Systems affiliated to Ministry of Interior in Al-Dajeej area. No casualties were reported but two individuals suffered from smoke inhalation and were treated at the site. The fire resulted in temporary suspension of operations of systems in all departments sectors border checkpoints traffic departments immigration departments and citizens service centers across the country reports Al-Seyassah daily.

Public Relations and Information Department of Kuwait Fire Services Directorate (KFSD) stated in a press release that the Control Room of KFSD received information about the fire in the building of General Department for Information Systems in Dajeej area at 8:13 pm on Monday.

Firefighters rushed to the location within six minutes and formed two teams for rescue and firefighting operations. They rescued two individuals who had suffered from smoke inhalation. While extinguishing the fire they discovered that fire had mainly broken out in three offices causing heavy smoke to fill the entire building.

Firefighters ventilated the building after extinguishing the fire. The operations were supervised directly by the Director General of KFSD Major General Yousef Al- Ansari as well as State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al- Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al- Sabah. Instructions were also given by the Deputy Director General for Human Resource Development Brigadier Khaled Al- Mekrad and Jahra Fire Director Colonel Mohammad Al-Shatti. High-ranking officers from KFSD were present at the location along with leaders from Ministry of Interior.

KFSD and Ministry of Interior have launched investigations to determine the cause of the fire. The fire resulted in temporary suspension of operations of systems in all departments sectors border checkpoints traffic departments immigration departments and citizens service centers.

Many visitors to sectors affiliated to Ministry of Interior were surprised when they were unable to complete their transactions. Border security officials had to manually complete all procedures related to the entry and exit movements at the border checkpoints.

Heavy traffic jam was experienced at all border checkpoints due to the use of manual process with delays extending to hours. Repair operations have been started to restore the systems at the border checkpoints. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Mohammad Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah assured that the information systems of all security sectors were not affected by the fire in the General Department for Information Systems.

In a press release issued by Ministry of Interior Security Media Department said Sheikh Mohammad Al- Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah appreciated the efforts exerted by the security departments including the firefighters for controlling the fire. While touring the site of the fire incident the minister also appreciated the performance and the capability of the technical teams. The department revealed that the incident resulted in minor material losses but no loss of life adding that all equipments and information system networks can be salvaged.