In a devastating incident early Wednesday, a major fire engulfed a building in Mangaf, southern Kuwait, resulting in the loss of at least 40 lives, including four Indian nationals, as reported by local media.
The affected building housed a sizable Malayalam-speaking community, with two victims hailing from Tamil Nadu and two from North India, though official confirmation from authorities is pending.
Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar, expressed profound shock over the tragedy, extending condolences to the bereaved families and wishing speedy recovery to the injured. In a tweet, he conveyed, “Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait city. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalized. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information.”
The fire, reported at 6:00 a.m. local time (0300 GMT), occurred in a building designated for workers’ accommodation, according to Major General Eid Rashed Hamad. Senior police officials highlighted the building’s dense population as a contributing factor to the high casualty count, with many succumbing to smoke inhalation despite rescue efforts.
Kuwait’s health ministry disclosed that approximately 43 individuals were hospitalized, with four fatalities among them. The total number of casualties remains unclear, as authorities continue their investigation into the cause of the fire, which has now been contained.