Gas cylinders, cardboard partitions, door to roof locked: Kuwait probe into building fire

45 of 49 dead identified as Indians

According to Kuwaiti authorities, 45 of the 49 dead have been identified as Indians and three from Philippines. One body is still to be identified. About 50 others were injured in the blaze in the building that housed 196 migrant workers in Mangaf, south of Kuwait City.

Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh, accompanied by Adarsh Swaika, Indian ambassador to Kuwait, met some of the survivors and senior officials in the Kuwaiti government.

Sources said that the probable cause seems to be a short-circuit on the ground floor, which was aggravated by the two dozen gas cylinders that were stored and kept there — the kitchen was located on the ground floor.

The fire is said to have spread quickly, since the rooms had enough inflammable material — cardboards, papers and plastic were used to separate the otherwise congested rooms where a dozen or more people were staying in each room of the building.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and acting Interior Minister, Fahad Yusuf Al-Sabah speaks with Kuwaiti police officers in front of a burnt building following a deadly fire, in Mangaf, southern Kuwait (Reuters)

The fire spread quickly and the smoke filled up the rooms on the ground floor and in the upper floors of the building. Those in the upper floors tried to get to the terrace but the door to the rooftop was locked. This trapped the workers in the inferno.

Sources said that buildings in the area have been changed internally to make more space, and there are violations of the building code in Kuwait. This hindered access for fire fighters.

The circumstances that led to the blaze, the worst in Kuwait in an inhabited building, have prompted authorities to crack down against builders and building owners.

In a post on X, the Indian embassy said MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh had called on Kuwait Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya. “FM Yahya conveyed his condolences on the tragic incident. He assured full support including for medical care, early repatriation of mortal remains and investigation of the incident,” the embassy said.

Singh met some of the injured Indians in hospitals and assured them all support from the Indian government.

Kuwaiti authorities are conducting DNA tests on the bodies and an IAF aircraft is on standby to bring back their mortal remains, sources said.

Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber al-Sabah has issued directives for the distribution of financial assistance to the families of the deceased. Additionally, he has ordered the preparation of aircraft to repatriate the bodies of Indians to their homeland, local media reports said.

A Kuwaiti police officer is seen in front of a burnt building following a deadly fire, in Mangaf, southern Kuwait, June 12, 2024. (Reuters)

Deputy Premier, Defence and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah ordered the arrest of the Kuwaiti landlord of the building and an Egyptian guard of the building and warned officials not to release them without his permission.

Local media reported that the minister told reporters that the fire was a catastrophe, and that teams from the municipality will begin inspecting all buildings and remove any violation without any warning.

He said authorities will also study the issue of overcrowding of expat workers in buildings and failure to comply with safety conditions.