Kuwait building fire kills 35, dozens hospitalized

A fire broke out in a building housing workers in Mangaf, southern Kuwait, killing at least 35 people, according to senior police officers.

The incident was reported to authorities at 6 a.m. local time (3 a.m. GMT), said Maj. Gen. Eid Rashed Hamad. “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, many died as a result of inhaling smoke from the fire,” another senior police commander told state TV.

The Kuwaiti health ministry stated that about 43 people were hospitalized due to the fire, with four fatalities among them. It remains unclear if these four fatalities are in addition to the 35 reported by police.

The authorities said they had contained the fire and were investigating what caused it.