New Delhi– Forty Indians were among 49 killed after a fire broke out in a building housing workers in Kuwait’s Mangaf city. The incident happened at 6 am local time (9 am IST). Kuwaiti officials said over 40 people have been hospitalised.
The fire started in a kitchen in the six-storey building, officials said, adding the building had nearly 160 people living in it, who are workers of the same company. Eyewitnesses said some people jumped from the fifth floor of the building to escape the fire and died.
The Indian embassy in Kuwait has issued a helpline number and earlier said the fire accident involved some Indian workers and the embassy will give all possible assistance. The emergency helpline number is +965-65505246.
“The building in which the fire occurred was used to house workers, and there were many workers there. Dozens were rescued, but unfortunately there were many deaths as a result of inhaling smoke from the fire,” a senior police officer told news agency Reuters.
“We always alert and warn against” cramming too many workers into housing accommodation, he said, without providing details on the workers’ type of employment or place of origin. The fire was contained and authorities were investigating its cause.
Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad al-Yousuf al-Sabah visited the site and ordered the arrest of the building’s owner, as per Al Jazeera. “Unfortunately, the greed of real estate owners is what leads to these matters,” said Sheikh Fahad, who also runs the interior and defence ministries.
