His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent on Wednesday a cable of condolences to the families of the victims of a fiery fire that gutted a multi-story apartment building in Al-Mangaf, which resulted in the death of at least 49 people and injury of many others.
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal expressed his sincere sorrow and deep sympathy to the families of the victims, and a fast recovery to the injured. He directed officials to follow up on the causes of the fire outbreak and hold whoever responsible accountable.
Identical sentiments of deep sorrow were expressed by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah who sent cable of condolences to the families of the victims. He voiced sincere sorrow and deep sympathy, wishing the injured fast recovery.
For his part, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah also addressed a cable of identical content to the victims' next of kin.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya spoke to Ministry of External Affairs of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, conveying the government and citizens' deep condolences over the death of 49 expatriates in that fire that broke out in the residential building. He expressed sincere sorrow and deep sympathy to the families of the victims, and wished fast recovery of the victims. He emphasized that Kuwait was utilizing all resources to care for the injured and meet their health and medical needs.
Kuwait awoke early today with the tragic news about a fiery fire gutting an apartment building in the residential district of Al-Mangaf, located south of the capital, Kuwait City.
As the hours passed, the casualty toll kept climbing until late in the day, when the Ministry of Interior declared that the latest update showed that at least 49 people perished in the flames that were fought by firemen who hurried to the scene, where their blazes stained the facade of multi-story building with charcoal soot.
All injured people have been taken to several nearby hospitals, including Adan and Jahra hospitals, for necessary medical treatment, Major General Eid Al-Owaihan, the chief of the ministry's Criminal Division, said in a statement to Kuwait TV. He confirmed that rescuers and medical emergency teams had scrambled to the scene to aid the victims.
Among the officials who had hurried to the scene was Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister, Defense Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Al-Sabah who warned that any building violation would be addressed without prior warning as of Thursday. "As of tomorrow (Thursday), the Municipality and its teams will respond to all violations at all apartment buildings without prior warning," the minister told reporters while inspecting the fire site.
The owner of the blaze building will be kept in custody until investigations into the causes of the fire are over, the minister said.
Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi said hospitals receiverd 56 people affected by the fire. He said the cases were distributed to hospitals of Adan, Mubarak Al-Kabeer, Farwaniya, Jaber Al-Ahmad and Jahra.
Late in the day, Kuwait's public prosecutor declared starting an investigation into circumstance of the fire that tore through the building housing foreign workers. The probe aims to uncover the circumstances behind the incident and what might have triggered the deadly inferno, the public prosecutor said on social media platform X, praising the state-wide response to the disaster.
Meanwhile, Minister of Public Works and Minister of Municipality Dr. Nora Al-Mashaan suspended administrators at Al-Ahmadi Municipal branch pending investigations into the fire.
In a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Dr. Al-Mashaan affirmed that she instructed the Municipality to open a full investigation into the matter. On his part, Director General of Kuwait Municipality Saud Al-Dabbous expressed deep condolences to the families ot the victims, affirming that an investigation was launched to determine the cause of the blaze. The suspended administrators were replaced by colleagues from other branches until the investigative process was concluded, he affirmed.
The death toll of a fiery fire that gutted a multi-story building in the southern district of Al-Mangaf early has jumped to 49, the Ministry of Interior announced. Major General Nasser Abu Slaib, the MoI Security Information Director, affirmed in a press release that the landlords of burned building would be stiffly penalized.
Personnel of the MoI's directorate general of criminal evidence are investigating the causes of the fire and identifying some victims. Interior Undersecretary General Sheikh Salem Nawaf Al-Sabah visited Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital to check on the condition of persons injured in the apartment building fire. Officials from the Ministry of Health briefed the minister on their condition after they were injured in the flames.
The tragic and shocking occurrence has drawn sentiments and deep sorrow, distress and solidarities from brotherly countries and entities.
In Riyadh, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jassem Al-Budaiwi expressed his deep condolences to Kuwait over the victims of the fire, praying to Allah Almighty to bestow upon the deceased mercy.
The United Arab Emirates commiserated with the State of Kuwait over the deadly fire that gutted the apartment building. The UAE Foreign Ministry expressed in a statement heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured quick recovery.
Egypt expressed condolences to the State of Kuwait over the apartment building fire that claimed 49 lives. Ambassador Ahmad Abu Zaid, the foreign ministry spokesman, said in a statement that Egypt prays for the souls of those who have perished in the tragic occurrence and wishes the injured rapid recuperation.