Kuwait Fire Tragedy: Most Victims Died In Sleep From Smoke Inhalation

The number of casualties in Kuwait was not disclosed by government officials until late because many of the victims were yet to be identified.

It was indicated by sources that identification could take some time as, similar to practices in other Gulf regions, the passports of foreign workers in Kuwait are retained by their employers, as reported by Times Of India.

Kuwait Fire Tragedy: Most Victims Died In Sleep

A significant portion of the Indian community in Kuwait, which numbers over a million, consists of unskilled and semi-skilled workers. A senior Kuwaiti official noted that many of the victims were Indian nationals from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and northern Indian states. Most deaths were caused by smoke inhalation while the victims were sleeping, according to Kuwaiti officials. A substantial number of occupants were successfully evacuated.

The fire, which was reportedly started by a short circuit, originated in a kitchen on the ground floor of a six-storey building located in the Mangaf area of Kuwait's southern Ahmadi Governorate, as reported by Times Of India. The building, which housed nearly 200 residents who were employees of the same company, saw the fire quickly spread to other floors.

Some individuals attempted to escape by jumping from the building and were among those who perished. Others succumbed to burns or suffocation from smoke inhalation. The death toll had reached 49, as reported by the Kuwait Times newspaper, based on a statement from the Kuwaiti interior ministry.

The ministry announced that personnel from the criminal evidence department were actively working to identify the victims on site and added that strict actions would be taken against building owners found to have violated the law. The ages of the deceased ranged from 20 to 50 years, according to Major General Eid Al Owaihan, head of the interior ministry's General Department of Criminal Evidence, as quoted by Arab Times. During the rescue operation, five firefighters sustained injuries, as per TOI.

The building in question was rented by NBTC Group, a leading firm in the import of building and construction materials in Kuwait. The company's partner and managing director is Malayali businessman K G Abraham, with Mohammed N Al Baddah serving as its chairman. An emergency helpline number, +965-65505246, has been established by the Indian embassy for assistance. It was highlighted that Indians comprise 21% (1 million) of Kuwait's total population and represent 30% of its workforce.

In response to the tragedy, the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, ordered an investigation into the massive fire and vowed to hold those responsible accountable, as per the media. The Indian embassy is rendering the fullest assistance to all concerned parties, as expressed by EAM S Jaishankar.