Kuwaiti officials announced on Thursday that three people have been detained for suspected homicide in connection with a building fire that killed scores of Indian foreign workers and left relatives and friends in despair.
According to officials in Manila, three Filipinos were among the 49 people killed as the fire sent black smoke billowing through the six-story building south of Kuwait City.
Most oil-rich Kuwait’s population of almost four million is made up of foreigners, many of whom are from South and Southeast Asia and work in the construction and service industries.
The fire, which injured scores, broke out about dawn on Wednesday at the bottom level of a block housing over 200 workers in the Mangaf neighborhood, which is densely inhabited with migrant laborers.
Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya informed media that one of the injured died overnight, following the death of 49 persons on Wednesday.
“The majority of the dead are Indians”, Abdullah Al-Yahya added.
Abdullah Al-Yahya went on to say, “There are other nationalities but I don’t remember exactly”.
As per the reports, many of the dead and injured died as a result of smoke inhalation after being trapped inside the building by the fire.
The public prosecution agency stated, “One Kuwaiti and two foreign residents have been detained on suspicion of manslaughter due to negligence of security procedures and fire regulations”.
Authorities did not reveal what caused the fire while the investigation was ongoing.
Also read: Kuwait Fire: Special IAF Aircraft Departs For India With Mortal Remains Of 45 Indians
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