Videos of the fire that engulfed a building housing foreign labourers in Kuwaiti capital Kuwait City have gone viral on social media. Videos showed smoke billowing out of windows of the building in Al-Mangaf, a city in Al-Ahmadi governorate, and flames blocking the entrance of the building in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.
BREAKING: 53 people killed and 40 injured in a Mangaf building fire in Kuwait's Southern Ahmadi Governorate. 5 among those killed are Indian. Indian Ambassador to Kuwait has left for the labour camp where fire erupted. pic.twitter.com/CmayupknFT— Baba Banaras™ (@RealBababanaras) June 12, 2024
Kuwaiti officials said the number of deceased is expected to rise. Media outlets of the Western Asian nation said that construction firm NBTC group rented the building for the stay of more than 195 workers, most of them Indians from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and northern states.
The country’s deputy prime minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah visited the site. He said that a probe has been launched and accused builders of violating norms for the sake of ‘greed’.
“Unfortunately, the greed of real estate owners is what leads to these matters,” said Sheikh Fahad, who also runs the interior and defence ministries. He issued directions to apprehend the owner and janitor of Al-Mangaf building.
Kuwait’s health ministry said the injured were admitted to several hospitals, with 21 of them sent to Al-Adan Hospital, six to Farwaniya hospital, one to Al-Amiri and 11 to Mubarak hospital.
Indian ambassador to Kuwait Adarsh Swaika visited several hospitals including where the injured have been admitted.
“Amb @AdarshSwaika visited the Al-Adan hospital where over 30 Indian workers injured in today’s fire incident have been admitted. He met a number of patients and assured them of full assistance from the Embassy,” the Indian embassy said on X.
“Almost all are reported to be stable by hospital authorities,” it said.
The Kuwaiti envoy to India said his office is following the probe that has been launched into the matter. “We are following the investigations in this matter. His Highness the Emir of the State of Kuwait, demands that the causes of the fire be quickly known and those responsible be held accountable,” Kuwaiti ambassador to India Meshal Mustafa J Alshemali said in a statement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the fire incident as “saddening” and said the Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation.
He also dispatched minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh to assist those injured in the fire tragedy and to coordinate with local authorities for early repatriation of mortal remains of those who have died in this unfortunate incident. The minister will soon leave for Kuwait to bring back mortal remains on those deceased and help those injured after holding a meeting with the Prime Minister, people familiar with the developments told CNN-News18.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed deep shock over the incident.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also extended condolences to the near and dear ones of those deceased. Officials said the majority of the victims of the fire are Indians, mostly from Kerala.
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