ALBAWABA- The death toll from the tragic fire in Mangaf, Kuwait, has risen to 49, with 147 injured, predominantly affecting expatriate workers from South Asian countries, especially India. The number of fatalities is expected to increase due to the large number of workers residing in the six-story building.
At 4:30 AM, a massive fire broke out on the first floor of the building, which houses many workers from a specific company.
As the flames and smoke spread to the upper floors, workers desperately searched for an escape, resulting in numerous fatalities and injuries.
Firefighters and paramedics arrived within three minutes, extinguished the fire, and transported the injured to hospitals. Kuwait's First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahd Al-Youssef, inspected the site.
He announced that starting today, the municipality and removal teams would address all property violations without prior warnings.
Al-Youssef revealed that the property owner where the fire occurred would be detained for investigation to determine any negligence or wrongdoing until legal procedures are completed. He also instructed the Public Authority for Manpower to address the issue of worker overcrowding in their residences.
Subsequently, Al-Youssef visited Al-Adan Hospital and Mubarak Hospital to check on the condition of the injured.
The Director of Security Media, Brigadier General Nasser Abu Sulaib, stated that strict measures would be taken against property owners violating the law.
He added that the General Department of Criminal Evidence is working to determine the causes and circumstances of the fire and to identify the victims at the scene.
