At least 41 people were killed in a significant fire that occurred in a building in Kuwait on Wednesday morning, while numerous injured individuals are currently being treated in a number of hospitals operated by the Ministry of Health.
The Director General of Forensic Evidence, Major General Eid Al Oweihan, has stated that the number of fatalities at the scene of the fire, which broke out in the Mangaf area of the city, has exceeded 35. Additionally, 15 injured individuals were transported to medical facilities, with four succumbing to their injuries, according to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
According to one report in a section of the Indian media, 43 people were killed in the blaze. Among them were 10 Indians, which included five from Kerala.
The Ministry of Health has announced that it has thus far treated and provided full medical care to 43 cases affected by the fire, including cases of severe injury and four cases that have resulted in death.
It has also stated that the injured have been admitted to several hospitals across the country. Twenty-one cases have been transferred to Al Adan Hospital, six cases to Farwaniya Hospital, one case to Al Amiri Hospital, eleven cases to Mubarak Hospital, and four cases to Mubarak Hospital. All medical teams are working to provide the necessary care and attention to these patients as soon as possible.
The fire was reported to authorities at 6am local time (0300 GMT), Major General Eid Rashed Hamad said.
“The building in which the fire occurred was used to house workers, and there was a large number of workers there. Dozens were rescued, but unfortunately there were many deaths as a result of inhaling smoke from the fire,” another senior police commander told state TV.
“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.