The tragic fire in Kuwait claimed the lives of 49 individuals and left over 50 others injured. Reports indicate that a majority of the victims, over 40, were of Indian nationality. The building where the fire broke out was a residence for foreign workers. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had a conversation with Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, who updated him on the ongoing rescue operations by Kuwaiti authorities following the incident. Many of the fatalities were a result of smoke inhalation while the occupants were asleep, with a considerable number of residents successfully evacuated, as per officials.
KUWAIT BUILDING FIRE: THE LATEST
- A fire engulfed a structure in Kuwait that accommodated foreign laborers on Wednesday morning, resulting in the tragic deaths of a minimum of 49 individuals, with 41 of them being Indian citizens aged between 20 and 50 years. The incident also left over 50 people wounded, as confirmed by India’s External Affairs Ministry. Authorities indicated that the fire may have been caused by violations of building codes, according to The Associated Press.
- On Wednesday evening, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had a conversation with Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, the Kuwaiti counterpart, emphasizing the importance of promptly repatriating the bodies of the individuals who lost their lives in the tragic fire that occurred in the Mangaf area of southern Kuwait.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who expressed his sorrow over the incident, assessed the situation during a meeting with S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, and Principal Secretary to PM PK Mishra, among others. Subsequent to the meeting, the Prime Minister declared ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased Indian nationals from the PM Relief Fund and instructed that the government should provide all available support.
- Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh announced his immediate departure to Kuwait today. He mentioned that certain bodies had been so severely burnt that they were unidentifiable. At the same time, Kuwaiti officials were in the process of conducting DNA tests on the deceased, while an Indian Air Force aircraft was prepared to repatriate the bodies of the Indian victims.
- The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, has instructed authorities to investigate the incident and has pledged to hold those responsible for the tragedy accountable. In a message of condolence to the families affected by the fire in Mangaf, the Emir conveyed his heartfelt sorrow and sympathy to the victims’ families, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
- Indian Ambassador Adarsh Swaika visited the site of the fire incident and subsequently went to hospitals, including Al-Adan Hospital, where more than 30 Indian workers were receiving treatment. He interacted with several patients and reassured them of the Embassy’s full support. According to hospital officials, almost all patients are in stable condition, as reported by the mission.
- The fire ignited prior to 6 am (local time). The NBTC group is the current tenant of the building. According to sources from news agency PTI, five firefighters were injured while carrying out the rescue operation.
- According to officials, the fire originated in a kitchen within a building located in the Mangaf area of Kuwait’s southern Ahmadi Governorate. The building was reported to be occupied by 195 individuals, all of whom were workers from the same company. Aside from Indian nationals, the victims of the fire included individuals from Pakistan, the Philippines, Egypt, and Nepal.
- In response to the incident, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait promptly released an emergency contact number.
- Local media interviewed witnesses who emphasized that the closure of ground passages within the building played a significant role in exacerbating the suffocation experienced by numerous victims. This obstruction not only impeded the movement of residents but also added to the difficulty of evacuating the building promptly, according to their accounts. Additionally, one eyewitness recounted a tragic incident in which a resident worker jumped from the fifth floor and tragically met his demise upon hitting the edge of the balcony.