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Kuwait fire: Why the blaze, which started in a kitchen, claimed so many lives
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 * Kuwait fire: Why the blaze, which started in a kitchen, claimed so many lives


KUWAIT FIRE: WHY THE BLAZE, WHICH STARTED IN A KITCHEN, CLAIMED SO MANY LIVES

FP Explainers • June 13, 2024, 14:59:28 IST
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A massive fire swept through a labour housing facility in Kuwait’s Mangaf area
early Wednesday, startling migrant workers who were soundly asleep. Amid the
mayhem, a few attempted to jump from the first floor in a frantic bid to escape
the fire, while others choked to death trying to make their way through the
smoke-filled hallways read more

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Smoke billows after a fire broke out in a building, in Mangaf, Kuwait,
Wednesday, 12 June 2024. Network18/File Photo

A massive fire swept through a labour housing facility in Kuwait’s Mangaf area
early Wednesday, startling migrant workers who were soundly asleep.

At least 49 foreign workers, including 42 Indian nationals, lost their lives.

Around 195 single men without families lived in the Al-Mangaf apartment, which
was turned into a terrifying scene at 4 am on 12 June as a fire quickly spread
across the building.



Amid the mayhem, a few workers attempted to jump from the first floor in a
frantic bid to escape the fire, while others choked to death trying to make
their way through the smoke-filled hallways.

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Horrifying accounts 

Survivors, still reeling from the trauma, spoke with The New Indian Express
(TNIE) about their frightening experience.

“It must have been around 4.30 am. I was sound asleep, only to be woken by the
sudden commotion. There was a lot of smoke around and I was confused," said
Chinnappan Viswanathan, who had a miraculous escape from the fire.

“People were running panic-stricken; many seemed to be choking. We chose not to
go out and remained in our room. Only when the fire officials came calling, did
we open the door.”

> “Thick smoke engulfed the entire building. I think the fire started on the
> ground floor. At first, we couldn’t understand what was happening. Many people
> were running, some were breathless. There was a lot of sound and confusion. A
> few went to the main hall and couldn’t return,” the 55-year-old on the third
> floor said.



Santhosh Kumar Gait, a 39-year-old storekeeper from Nepal, is utterly shocked as
he escaped the fire through a window pane.

“I heard many shouts that the building is ablaze. Three or four of us together
broke open the glass window and jumped to the ground floor. We were fortunate to
escape with our lives,” Gait told TNIE.

A fire swept through a building that housed foreign workers in Kuwait early
Wednesday, killing at least 40 Indian nationals and injuring more than 50,
India’s external affairs ministry said. Network18/File Photo

Sharp-minded Rajendran Maridurai, 29, saved himself and his third-floor
housemates by turning off the air conditioner, opening the window and staying
inside.

> “We were asleep on the third floor. I think it was those who had gotten up for
> morning prayer who called us. We could hear the commotion and saw a thick
> cloud of smoke all around us. Some tried to escape. Many fell unconscious.
> Some remained inside after locking their rooms. Two jumped from the fourth
> floor and lost their lives. We switched off the air conditioner and broke the
> glass to let in outside air. Since the door was locked, we were not affected,”
> he told the newspaper.

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An Egyptian who survived the fire and worked as a driver in Kuwait told local
media that the fire had started on a lower floor and that those on higher levels
were unable to escape. He said the building had filled with thick smoke.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More on the Kuwait fire tragedy: 

Kuwait fire: Who were the Indian victims killed in the tragedy?

How migrant workers live and work in poor conditions in the Gulf nation

Kuwait fire kills over 40 Indians: How the Modi govt swung into quick action to
help victims’ families, survivors

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The victims were suffocated

Local officials dispatched firefighters to contain the fire, which reportedly
broke out in the kitchen of the six-storey building, as soon as they received
the emergency call.

Although they responded quickly, the fire’s intensity was too high, as it
trapped many occupants inside the flaming building, managed by Keralan
businessman KG Abraham.

Charred bodies were found on the stairs, according to local media reports.

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Though the exact cause of the fire is yet to be known, The Kuwait Times claimed
that the fire was caused by a gas leak.

A senior Kuwaiti journalist told CNN-News18 that the extreme heatwave, which led
to temperatures surpassing 50 degrees Celsius, could have contributed to the
tragedy.

Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah ordered an immediate investigation into the
cause of the fire and said that any officials found responsible would be held
accountable, as per Reuters.

Smoke billows after a fire broke out in a building, in Mangaf, Kuwait,
Wednesday, 12 June 2024. PTI

Sayed Al-Mousawi, the head of investigations at the Kuwait Fire Department, said
the team investigating the causes of the fire found that an inflammable material
was used as partitions between apartments and also between rooms, which caused
the huge black clouds of smoke, reported News18.

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The department said many of the “victims suffocated while trying to run down the
stairs” because they were filled with smoke.

Al-Mousawi added that the victims could not go to the rooftop because the door
was locked.

Safety standards questioned

Following the tragic fire, concerns have been expressed over the safety
standards for Kuwaiti migrant worker accommodations.

“The greed of real estate owners is what leads to these matters,” said Deputy
Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah during his visit to the site.

It was not immediately apparent what, if any, violations had occurred at the
structure.

Smoke billows after a fire broke out in a building, in Mangaf, Kuwait,
Wednesday, 12 June 2024. PTI

Low-paid, blue-collar workers in the Gulf often live in overcrowded
accommodations.

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Local authorities did not disclose what kind of employment the workers were
engaged in, though like in other Gulf states,  Kuwait  relies heavily upon
foreign labour in industries like construction, including from South and
Southeast Asia.

DNA tests being done

Arriving in Kuwait to assist with the repatriation of deceased Indians’ mortal
remains, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh stated that
most victims had serious burns, with some bodies being burned beyond
recognition.

He added that an Air Force plane is ready for prompt deployment and that DNA
testing processes are currently being conducted to aid in victim identification.

The minister stated that the Air Force will assist with repatriation and that
relatives will be notified as soon as victim identities are verified.

MoS for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh visits the Jaber hospital to meet
Indians injured in a fire incident, in Kuwait, Thursday, 13 June 2024. PTI

“As soon as the bodies are identified, the kin will be informed and our airforce
plane will bring the bodies back… The latest figures that we had last night, the
casualty figures are around 48-49 out of this 42 or 43 are believed to be
Indians,” MoS Singh told ANI.

Adarsh Swaika, the Indian ambassador, visited the fire scene and subsequently to
several hospitals, including Al-Adan Hospital, which admitted more than 30
Indian labourers.

He reassured patients that the Embassy would provide them with full support.
According to hospital officials, almost all are stable, as the mission stated.

Senior IAS officer Jeevan Babu, the state director of the National Health
Mission, and Health Minister Veena George will travel to Kuwait to coordinate
relief efforts and expedite the process of returning the victims’ mortal remains
by air.

Speaking with his counterpart Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya in Kuwait, External Affairs
Minister Dr S Jaishankar received an update on the work being done by the local
authorities.

“Was assured that the incident would be fully investigated and that
responsibility will be fixed,” Jaishankar said on X. He added that he had urged
the early repatriation of the bodies of those who had lost their lives.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the fire incident as “saddening,” and
held a meeting with EAM Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vinay
Kwatra, and Principal Secretary to the PM PK Mishra to review the situation.

“My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray
that the injured recover at the earliest,” he said.

The PM also announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh to each of the families
of the deceased Indian nationals from the PM Relief Fund.

The Indian Embassy has established a helpline +965-65505246 (WhatsApp and
regular call) for family members to get in touch. Regular updates are being
provided through the helpline.

With inputs from agencies

Tags
India Kerala Kuwait Tamil Nadu

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