Kuwait Municipality has addressed an inquiry from Municipal Council member Khaled Al-Dagher regarding the findings and recommendations of the investigation committee formed under Ministerial Resolution No. 329 of 2024 concerning the Al-Mangaf fire incident.
In its response, the Municipality stated that the Engineering Audit and Follow-up Department conducted a field inspection, which confirmed that the site is a rental residential building consisting of a ground floor, mezzanine, six upper floors, and a rooftop. The owner had already rectified and removed the violations cited in Report No. 08257. As a result, the Municipality confirmed that the property is now fully compliant with its license, with no further violations. Additionally, the legal department has not initiated any investigation into the matter.
On June 12, 2024, a devastating fire broke out in a six-story residential building in Mangaf, Kuwait, claiming 50 lives, most of whom were Indian migrant workers. The fire started in the ground-floor security room and quickly spread to the kitchen and lower floors. Many victims succumbed to smoke inhalation while asleep, while others sustained fatal injuries from falls. Around 50 people were injured, including five firefighters.
The building housed 196 male migrant workers employed by the NBTC Group. A preliminary investigation determined that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit in the security guard’s room, worsened by the presence of flammable materials used for partitioning apartments and rooms. Furthermore, escape was hindered as the rooftop door was locked.
Following the tragedy, authorities arrested the building’s owner for negligence and called for stricter enforcement of building safety standards. The incident garnered international attention, with Indian officials offering condolences and coordinating the repatriation of the deceased workers’ remains.
