Kuwaiti authorities have detained three individuals on suspicion of manslaughter following a devastating fire that claimed the lives of dozens of foreign workers, including three Filipinos, in a six-storey building south of Kuwait City. The fire, which erupted at dawn on Wednesday in the Mangaf area, killed 50 people and injured dozens more.
The building housed nearly 200 workers, predominantly from South and Southeast Asia. Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya confirmed that most of the deceased were Indian nationals, and many of the fatalities resulted from smoke inhalation as victims were trapped inside the burning structure.
According to an AFP report, one Kuwaiti and two foreign residents have been detained for alleged negligence of safety procedures and fire regulations. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and authorities have yet to disclose further details.
The fire is among the worst in Kuwait’s history, drawing parallels to a 2009 incident where 57 people died in a wedding tent fire. In response to the recent tragedy, Interior Minister Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef pledged to tackle labor overcrowding and enforce stricter safety regulations.
In the wake of the disaster, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced financial aid for the victims’ families, while Indian Junior Foreign Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh traveled to Kuwait to assist survivors and arrange the repatriation of the deceased. The identification of some victims is ongoing due to severe burns, necessitating DNA tests.
In the Philippines, the Department of Migrant Workers confirmed the death of three Filipinos and reported that two more are in critical condition. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac assured that they are in contact with the affected families.
