Workers crammed into narrow flats; reasons for high death toll in Kuwait fire accident

Kuwait City: A six-storey apartment complex in the Mangaf area, south of Kuwait City. Narrow rooms with glass cubicles. The fire that led to the big disaster yesterday broke out in the fourth block here.

The fire broke out at six o'clock in the morning. A large number of workers were still in the flat. Many died of suffocation due to smoke rising from the ground floor. Some jumped down. Glass shards penetrated many people's bodies. 196 people live in the block. Most of the Indians who are injured and hospitalized are Malayalis. Many have not passed the danger level. Most of the accident victims are workers of the company, which has a Malayali managing partner.

There are conflicting reports about the accident. It is reported that the fire broke out due to a short circuit. However, the Egyptian watcher of the flat where the accident occurred had stored cooking gas cylinders in his cramped room. Some survivors say one of them caught fire due to the heat and exploded.

A detailed investigation has been launched into the incident under the leadership of Major General Eid Al Owah, the head of the Criminal Evidence Division of the Ministry of Interior. Kuwait Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al Yusuf, who visited the scene, said that he will check the situation in other labour camps in Kuwait and take strict action if there is a security breach. The owner of the building where the accident happened has been arrested.

Companies provide only limited facilities to workers with the aim of minimizing costs. There is generally no action from the authorities to remedy the situation in such camps.

Seven percent of the world's oil production comes from Kuwait. A large number of workers working in oil rigs and other construction sectors live in such labour camps.