Kuwaiti authorities launch crackdown on illegal property extensions after Mangaf fire
Most deaths were due to smoke inhalation while residents in the building were sleeping when the fire broke out early Wednesday in Kuwait's southern city of Mangaf in Ahmadi Governorate. The building was home to 196 migrant workers, mostly Indians.
The incident triggered calls for action against real estate landlords and company owners who violate the law to house large numbers of foreign labourers in extremely unsafe conditions to cut costs.
The Kuwait Municipality has launched a rigorous crackdown on illegal property extensions, the Arab Times newspaper reported.
This tragic incident has shed light on the long-standing issue of unauthorised modifications to buildings, prompting authorities to take decisive action to prevent such disasters in the future.
For years, the illegal conversion of property spaces has been a pervasive issue in Kuwait.
Basement parking areas have been transformed into warehouses, while ground-floor open spaces have been converted into housing units and shops, all in the pursuit of additional income.
These modifications, often carried out without proper approval, compromise the safety and integrity of buildings, the paper said.
An India Embassy team on Friday visited all 5 hospitals where 25 injured Indians are receiving medical treatment.
They enquired about their medical condition.
«Most patients are already in touch with their families.» the Embassy of India posted on X.
The investigation team of the fire department
