Death toll rises to 49 in Kuwait building fire: interior ministry

At least 49 people were killed in a fire that engulfed a building housing workers in the city of Mangaf in Kuwait’s southern Ahmadi Governorate, Kuwait’s interior ministry said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah ordered a probe into the cause of the fire and vowed to bring to justice those responsible.

The owner of the impacted building was arrested until investigations are complete, according to Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Acting Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Youssef Saud Al-Sabah.

“We will address the issue of labor overcrowding and neglect,” said Al-Sabah in a statement posted on Kuwait News Agency.

Following the massive fire, the municipality has also been ordered to demolish violating properties from Thursday without warning the violators.

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According to KUNA, at least 43 people were hospitalized due to the fire. The authorities said they had contained the fire and were investigating the cause.