At least 41 individuals lost their lives in a tragic Kuwait fire that engulfed a worker housing building in southern Mangaf district early Wednesday morning, as confirmed by local authorities. The incident also left dozens injured, according to the Health Ministry.
The blaze occurred in an area densely populated with foreign laborers, though the specific nationalities of the victims remain undisclosed at this time.
In response to the Kuwait Fire, Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad al-Yousuf al-Sabah, who also oversees the interior and defense ministries, ordered the arrest of the building’s owner during his visit to the site. Sheikh Fahad criticized the real estate owner’s greed, attributing it as a contributing factor to the tragedy.
“Unfortunately, the greed of real estate owners is what leads to these matters,” he stated.
Firefighters managed to bring the fire under control, and an investigation is underway to determine its cause.
A senior police official, speaking to state television, revealed that the building housed a significant number of workers. Despite the successful rescue of many, the high number of fatalities was primarily due to smoke inhalation.
“We always alert and warn against cramming too many workers into housing accommodation,” the police commander emphasized, though he did not provide specific details regarding the workers’ occupations or countries of origin.