Kuwait’s deputy prime minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah announced that at least 41 people had died in a fire that broke out in a building housing workers in Mangaf, early on Wednesday.
The deputy PM accused real estate owners of violations and greed, claiming that these factors contributed to the catastrophe.
“Unfortunately, the greed of real estate owners is what leads to these matters”, stated Sheikh Fahad, who also controls the interior and defense ministries.
Major General Eid Rashed Hamad confirmed that the incident was reported to authorities at 6:00 a.m. local time (0300 GMT).
A senior police commander said, “The building in which the fire occurred was used to house workers, and there was a large number of workers there. Dozens were rescued, but unfortunately, there were many deaths as a result of inhaling smoke from the fire”.
“We always alert and warn against cramming too many workers into housing accommodation”, the officer continued, without providing information about the workers’ occupation or place of origin.
“The fire was extinguished, and authorities were investigating its cause”, the officials added.
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