Over 35 individuals lost their lives, and dozens sustained injuries following a predawn fire eruption in a residence accommodating nearly 200 foreign workers in Kuwait, officials reported on Wednesday.
The tragic incident occurred in the Mangaf area, situated south of Kuwait City, known for its dense population of migrant laborers.
Major General Eid Al-Owaihan, heading the interior ministry’s General Department of Criminal Evidence, confirmed the devastating toll at the scene.
The blaze, which ignited precisely at 6:00 am, engulfed a six-story building, where 196 workers resided as informed by their employer.
The victims, predominantly from South and Southeast Asia, predominantly engaged in construction or service sectors, tragically succumbed to smoke inhalation as the fire originated on the ground floor, revealed a source in the General Fire Department.
Forensic teams, presently on-site, have identified three bodies thus far, announced Owaihan.
Though the nationalities of the deceased remain undisclosed, the Indian ambassador, contacted by AFP, disclosed his presence at the hospital, extending support to survivors.
Expressing profound shock, India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
Meanwhile, the owner of the ill-fated building has been detained pending an investigation into potential negligence, declared Interior Minister Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef during his visit to the site.
Issuing a stern warning, Al-Yousef pledged immediate evacuation of properties found violating safety protocols, emphasizing a crackdown on labor overcrowding and neglect.
The owner will remain in custody until legal procedures conclude, affirmed the minister, underlining the urgency to rectify safety deficiencies to avert such tragedies in the future.
