Fire in Kuwait building kills 40+ Indian workers

Los Angeles/Jun 13, 2024
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

A fire in a Kuwait building housing foreign workers has resulted in the deaths of at least 49 people. Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister has accused property owners of violating safety regulations, contributing to the tragedy.

Local authorities have not yet disclosed the nationalities of the victims. India’s ambassador visited hospitals where the injured were being treated. According to the Indian embassy, over 30 Indian citizens were admitted to one hospital, with at least 47 workers receiving treatment in total.

Reports indicate several Indians from Kerala were among the dead. Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan confirmed the deaths in a letter to India’s Foreign Minister, noting that 41 Indians, including 11 from Kerala, had perished according to the Indian community in Kuwait. Reuters could not independently confirm these figures.

Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah attributed the incident to “the greed of real estate owners,” though specific violations at the building were not detailed.

Many low-paid, blue-collar workers in the Gulf live in overcrowded conditions. The exact employment of the workers in the building was not specified, but Kuwait relies heavily on foreign labor in industries like construction, primarily from South and Southeast Asia.

An Egyptian survivor, who worked as a driver, told local media that the fire started on a lower floor, trapping those on higher levels as thick smoke filled the building.

Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah ordered an immediate investigation into the fire’s cause, with a promise to hold accountable any officials found responsible. The interior ministry, reporting the death toll at 49, is investigating and searching the site for more victims while working to identify the deceased.

The fire in Mangaf, a coastal city south of Kuwait City, was reported at 6 a.m. (0300 GMT) and was later contained, said Major General Eid Rashed Hamad on state television. A senior police commander noted that many fatalities were due to smoke inhalation, with dozens rescued from the building. He also mentioned previous warnings against overcrowded housing for workers, but did not specify if these regulations were violated in this case.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media platform X, stating, “My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest.”

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