MANGAF CITY, Kuwait. A devastating fire engulfed a six-storey building housing workers in Mangaf city on Wednesday, resulting in the tragic loss of 49 lives and leaving dozens injured, local authorities confirmed.
The fire, which originated in a kitchen on the ground floor, quickly spread through the building, which housed approximately 160 workers from a single company. Witnesses reported seeing desperate individuals jumping from the fifth floor in an attempt to escape the flames, many of whom did not survive the fall.
The blaze was reported to authorities at 6 a.m. local time (0300 GMT). Major General Eid Rashed Hamad disclosed that the building was densely populated with workers, complicating rescue efforts. “The building in which the fire occurred was used to house workers, and there was a large number of workers there. Dozens were rescued, but unfortunately there were many deaths as a result of inhaling smoke from the fire,” a senior police commander informed state TV.
Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al Sabah, who visited the site, criticized real estate owners for violations and greed, attributing these factors to the tragedy. He described the incident as a “real disaster.”
According to Onmanorama, the victims included 10 Indian nationals, five of whom were from Kerala. The building, owned by the NBTC group and Malayali businessman KG Abraham, housed workers from various regions, including Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The fire in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected.”
India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar also commented on the tragedy: “Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait city. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalized. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information.”
The Indian Embassy in Kuwait has issued a helpline number and confirmed that the fire involved several Indian workers, pledging all possible assistance. The Indian Ambassador in Kuwait reported that over 30 Indian workers injured in the fire have been admitted to local hospitals.
Major General Eid Al Oweihan, Director General of Criminal Evidence, initially confirmed 35 fatalities, with six more victims succumbing to their injuries in the hospital. The interior ministry later updated the death toll to 49.
A source from the General Fire Department revealed that the victims primarily succumbed to suffocation from the smoke, which rapidly filled the building after the fire broke out on the ground floor.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
