A tragic fire in a residential building in Mangaf, Kuwait has claimed the lives of at least 41 people, with another 15 injured and taken to hospital. The Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf al-Sabah has pointed fingers at property owners, accusing them of greed and violations of building standards that led to the deadly incident.
Video footage shared on social media captured the horrifying scene of flames engulfing the lower part of the building and thick black smoke billowing from the upper floors. The fire was reported at 06:00 local time on Wednesday and is now under control, with rescue efforts ongoing.
Reports suggest that the building may have been overcrowded, with a senior police officer stating that there were a “large number” of people inside at the time of the fire. Many of the casualties are believed to be foreign workers who lived in the building, although their countries of origin and nature of employment have not been confirmed.
Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar expressed condolences to the families of the victims, with unconfirmed reports indicating that some of the deceased are from the Indian sub-continent. The incident sheds light on the living conditions of foreign workers in Kuwait, where two-thirds of the population are migrants, highlighting the country’s heavy reliance on migrant labor in various sectors.
Human rights groups have consistently raised concerns about the living conditions of foreign workers in Kuwait, emphasizing the need for better regulations and enforcement to prevent such tragedies in the future.
