Death rate in Kuwait fire rises to over 41
Date
6/13/2024 3:25:09 AM
(MENAFN) A devastating fire erupted on Wednesday morning in the Mangaf area of southern Kuwait, resulting in a tragic loss of at least 41 lives and leaving numerous others injured, as announced by Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Al-Sabah, the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Interior. In his televised statement on Kuwait TV, Sheikh Fahad attributed the calamity to the "greed and avarice" of both company and building owners, calling it a stark consequence of negligence.
Prompt action was taken as the minister ordered the detention of those deemed responsible, including the building owner, pending a thorough investigation by the forensic evidence team. Mohammed Al-Gharib, the director of public relations at the General Fire Force, revealed that the fire engulfed a densely populated six-story residential building, predominantly housing labor workers. Most fatalities were attributed to smoke inhalation, particularly as many were asleep when the fire broke out. However, a significant number of residents were successfully evacuated from the premises.
Eid Al-Owaihan, director of the Interior Ministry's criminal division, affirmed Kuwait TV that emergency responders swiftly contained the blaze. He stated that efforts were underway to identify victims and that injured individuals had been transported to various hospitals for treatment. Meanwhile, local reports, citing unnamed sources, disclosed the likely origin of the fire, indicating it started in the guard's room before spreading to a lounge and storage area containing gas cylinders, ultimately consuming the entire building. The sources also mentioned that a considerable portion of the occupants, primarily of Indian nationality, were present in the building at the time of the incident.
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