Kuwait Fire Tragedy Claims 49 Lives, Predominantly Indians: Latest Updates on Mangaf Labor Camp Disaster
Kuwait’s Interior Ministry reported that the death toll from the devastating fire has reached 49. Among the victims, over 40 were Indian nationals, and more than 50 Indians were injured.
A severe fire broke out in a six-story building in Kuwait that housed foreign workers early Wednesday morning. The blaze claimed the lives of at least 49 people, predominantly Indians, and left more than 50 others injured, according to officials. Most fatalities were due to smoke inhalation as residents were asleep when the fire started in a kitchen in the building located in the Mangaf area of Kuwait’s southern Ahmadi Governorate. The building, which housed 195 residents employed by the same company, saw significant evacuation efforts.
Kuwait’s Interior Ministry confirmed the casualty figures, stating that over 40 of the deceased were Indian, with the remainder being Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian, and Nepali nationals. The Ministry’s criminal evidence department is working to identify the victims and determine the fire’s cause, promising strict action against any building owners found in violation of the law. Major General Eid Al-Owaihan, head of the Interior Ministry’s General Department of Criminal Evidence, noted the fire was reported at 6:00 am local time.
The majority of those killed were Indian nationals from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and northern Indian states, aged between 20 and 50. The building was rented by the NBTC group. Five firefighters were injured during the rescue operations.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar communicated with his Kuwaiti counterpart Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, who assured a thorough investigation and accountability. Jaishankar emphasized the need for prompt repatriation of the deceased’s remains and proper medical care for the injured. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh was dispatched to Kuwait to oversee aid efforts.
Prime Minister Modi held a meeting to review the situation and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased Indian nationals. An emergency helpline number was provided by the Indian Embassy in Kuwait for updates and assistance.
Eyewitnesses reported that blocked ground passages exacerbated the suffocation suffered by victims and hindered evacuation efforts. One witness described a tragic incident where a resident jumped from the fifth floor and died upon impact.
The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber al-Sabah, ordered a probe into the fire, with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister expressing condolences and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah ordered the arrest of the building owner, janitor, and the company responsible for the workers, pending a criminal investigation.
Several officials from the Kuwait Municipality were suspended pending an investigation into the fire, which will determine the cause and hold those responsible accountable. The Public Prosecution is actively investigating, with personnel inspecting the scene and interviewing injured victims in hospitals.
