A fire at a residential building in Mangaf, Kuwait, has claimed the lives of at least 41 people and injured 15 others, mostly foreign workers, according to government officials.
In a tragic incident early on Wednesday, a devastating fire broke out at a residential block in Mangaf, Kuwait, resulting in at least 41 fatalities and injuring 15 more. Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf al-Sabah announced the death toll, attributing the disaster to violations of building standards by the property owners. Sheikh al-Sabah, who is also the acting interior minister, criticized the owners’ disregard for regulations, suggesting their “greed” had contributed to the fire’s deadly outcome.
“Unfortunately the greed of the property owners is what led to this,” Sheikh al-Sabah told Reuters. “They violate regulations and this is the result of the violations.”
Video footage circulating on social media depicts the building engulfed in flames from the lower floors while thick black smoke poured from the upper levels. The fire was reported at 06:00 local time (03:00 GMT), according to Interior Ministry spokesman Maj-Gen Eid al-Oweihan. Emergency services quickly responded, managing to control the blaze and ongoing rescue operations are reported.
Authorities indicate that many of the victims were foreign workers residing in the building, highlighting the possible overcrowding and substandard living conditions that have been a longstanding concern in Kuwait. Maj-Gen al-Oweihan noted the building was likely overpopulated, contributing to the high number of casualties.
“A large number of people were in the building at the time of the fire,” a senior police officer told state television. “Dozens were rescued, but unfortunately there were many deaths as a result of inhaling smoke from the fire.”
No specific details regarding the nationalities or occupations of the deceased have been released. However, Indian media reports, yet to be confirmed, suggest some victims might be from the Indian subcontinent. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed via social media that Indian embassy officials had visited the injured in hospital and extended condolences to the bereaved families.
Kuwait’s labor market is heavily reliant on foreign workers, who constitute about two-thirds of the population. Many of these workers are employed in sectors such as construction and domestic services. The fire has intensified scrutiny over the living conditions of migrant workers in Kuwait, which have been a point of concern for human rights organizations. Reports of overcrowded and unsafe housing for foreign laborers are common, exacerbating the risks in the event of emergencies like fires.
Local media have reiterated the frequent warnings issued about the risks of overcrowded accommodations, particularly in buildings housing foreign workers.
The incident in Mangaf underscores the urgent need for stringent enforcement of building safety standards and better living conditions for the expatriate workforce in Kuwait. Authorities are expected to conduct thorough investigations into the causes of the fire and the living arrangements within the building to prevent such tragedies in the future.
