Glance:
On June 12, 2024 an incident named “Mangaf Fire Accident” took place in a residential building fire in Mangaf, Kuwait, claimed the lives of at least 49 individuals.
While some victims died from falling-related injuries, the majority of the victims, who were asleep at the time, perished from smoke inhalation. Following the event, the caretaker, business owner, and owner of the building were all taken into custody.
Highlighted Questions-
- What is Mangaf Fire Accident?
- Causes of Mangaf Fire Accident?
- Victims of Kuwait Fire Tragedy
Behind the Scenes:
Despite Kuwait’s heavy reliance on migrant labour, human rights organisations have highlighted the country’s subpar living circumstances.
Over 1,400 Indian labourers lost their lives in Kuwait between 2022 and 2024, and the Indian embassy in Kuwait City received 16,423 complaints about payment delays, harassment, and inadequate housing between March 2021 and December 2023.
The COVID-19 outbreak caused a significant number of migrants to return to India.
Details of Mangaf Fire Accident
At 06:00 AST (03:00 GMT), a six-story residential building’s ground floor was the scene of a reported fire.
196 workers were housed in the building at the time of the fire, making them a “large number” of individuals.
The kitchen had more than 20 LPG cylinders and other combustible objects, which helped the fire spread quickly after it started in the security room.
Thick black smoke billowed from the upper stories as flames consumed the lowest portion of the structure.
While several of the victims sustained injuries from falls, the majority of the deaths were caused by smoke inhalation while the victims were asleep.
67 persons were rescued by security services. 171 Firefighters sustained injuries while conducting rescue operations.
Those Who Lost Their Lives:
49 persons lost their lives. At least fifty more people were hurt and sent to the hospital.
Officials from the Indian embassy paid hospital visits to the injured. Thirty victims have been recognised as of June 12; additional bodies needed to undergo DNA testing because they had been charred beyond recognition.
Eleven of the deceased were from Kerala, and at least 41 were from India. A number of the victims, who ranged in age from 20 to 50, were also from Tamil Nadu and Northern India.
56 people from the incident were admitted to local hospitals. Adarsh Swaika, the Indian ambassador to Kuwait, later paid a visit to Al Adan Hospital, where more than thirty Indian nationals were receiving treatment.
Additionally, three Filipino labourers perished and three more were hurt , two of them gravely. There were also nationals from Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan among the dead.
Reasons of Mangaf Fire Accident
According to Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Al-Sabah, the catastrophe was caused by building code infractions.
State TV was informed by a senior police officer that overpopulation in these kinds of accommodations was frequently the subject of warnings.
Consequences of Mangaf Fire Accident
During a visit, Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Al-Sabah issued an order for the caretaker, business owner and owner of the property to be arrested.
Later, the building’s owner was arrested for carelessness.
Leader’s Reaction:
Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, referred to the tragedy as tragic and offered his sympathies to the victims’ families.
S. Jaishankar, the foreign minister of India, also expressed sympathy. Kirti Vardhan Singh, the minister of state for external affairs, promised to help and repatriate the deceased.