Catastrophic Fire That Killed 49 Workers

Wednesday morning Kuwait woke up to the tragic news, which we never witnessed in Kuwait in the past. A fire at a labour camp in Mangaf. Initial reports was the death of 4 workers in the fire. However with the passing of time, the number of causalities also raised, reaching it up to 49 deaths reported as of now and several others are injured.

The incident happened at a six story building, where around 196 workers of a private company were housed. The initial investigation attributed the high number of casualty to the storing of around 20 cooking gas cylinder on the ground floor, where the fire was reportedly started.

Reports also indicated that the majority of the workers, who were on sleep after completing their night shift, were on the higher floor of 5th and six floors. Inhaling of heavy fumes and blocking of exit from the top floors of the budling caused the increase in death toll.

The Public Prosecution had initiated the investigation which leads to the tragic incident. State prosecution officials inspected the scene of the fire and spoke with the injured victims in hospitals.

Kuwait Amir His Highness Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Crown Prince HH Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and the Prime Minister HH Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah offered condolence to the sad incident and ordered for a strict probe. Indian prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar also offered condolence and directed the Indian Embassy to assure all assistance in the incident. Minister of State for External Affairs Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh will be arriving Kuwait soon to oversee the assistance to those who are injured in today's fire tragedy.

The Minister of Interior had visited the site and ordered for an investigation and assured that strict punishment will be given to whoever found guilty of this tragic incident. Health Minsiter had directed all hospitals to extend all the assistance to the injured and formed a special team to follow up the treatment. Indian Ambassador to Kuwait Dr Adarsh Swaika also visited the incident site and all the hospitals where the injured are treated. Ambassador also assured all possible assistance from the Embassy.

Wednesday evening, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior Lieutenant General Sheikh Salem Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah visited all the hospitals and assured that the guilty will be made accountable.

Interior Minister had ordered all companies to abide by the rules and regulations regarding the worker accommodation and ordered the officials to carry out strict check on all such buildings.

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