Lives Lost In Kuwait Riggae Fire: Six Dead, Nine Injured

Arab Times

01-06-2025

KUWAIT CITY, June 1: Riggae woke up at dawn Sunday to a tragic fire that broke out in a building, resulting in the deaths of six people: three at the scene and three in the hospital, while nine others were injured – all of them are Asians and Africans. Firefighting teams worked hard to rescue people trapped in the flames by lowering them from the top of the building through fire ladders and extinguishing the blaze.
Emergency medical teams rushed to transport the injured to hospitals, in the presence of Public Security, Rescue, and Traffic personnel. Meanwhile, the Director of Public Relations and Media Department at Kuwait Fire Force (KFF), Brigadier General Mohammad Al-Gharib confirmed that the death toll in the Riggae building fire rose to six, indicating that three died at the scene and three died in the hospital.
Al-Gharib told the newspaper that the first firefighting team arrived at the scene within four minutes, affirming that firefighting teams were able to rescue a number of those residing in the building and quickly brought them down through fire ladders. He said the firefighting teams extinguished the flames in record time and launched an investigation to determine the circumstances leading to the fire.
In the same context, KFF announced that firefighting teams from Shuwaikh Industrial Area and Ardiya fire stations, as well as the search and rescue centers, controlled the fire that broke out in two apartments in a building in Riggae. KFF revealed that some of the injured were treated at the scene, while others were taken to the hospital. It added that 15 ambulances were quickly dispatched to the fire site, along with intensified preparations to receive the injured at Al-Sabah, Farwaniya, Mubarak Al-Kabeer and Jahra hospitals.
The injuries included first- and second-degree burns and suffocation. The videos posted on social media clearly showed the tremendous efforts exerted by the firefighters who rushed to the scene to rescue trapped people. Others rescued those trapped and escaping the flames. Dozens of the building's residents were rescued, as firefighters arrived at the scene quickly and professionally dealt with the incident. Furthermore, Farwaniya Governor Sheikh Athbi Nasser Al-Athbi Al- Sabah visited Farwaniya Hospital on Sunday to check on the condition of those injured in the fire.
According to a press release issued by Farwaniya Governorate, Sheikh Athbi Al-Nasser was accompanied by Director of Farwaniya Security Command Brigadier General Mohammed Mutlaq Al-Mutairi, Assistant Director of Farwaniya Security Command Brigadier General Nayef Al-Hajraf, and Director of Farwaniya Hospital Dr. Ali Al-Mutairi.
During the visit, Sheikh Athbi Al- Nasser received a detailed explanation from medical staff regarding the condition of the injured and the medical care being provided. He directed the concerned authorities to thoroughly investigate the cause of the fire and ensure all necessary support and services are extended to the injured. The governor also offered his condolences to the families of the victims. He praised the efforts of the security forces and firefighters in containing the blaze. He stressed the importance of adhering to safety and security standards in residential buildings to prevent such tragedies in the future.