Kuwait fire ravages 35 shops, building

Manama: A fire in Kuwait has gutted 35 shops and offices in a traditional market on the first day of the New Year.

A four-storey building used as accommodation by single expatriates was also razed in the morning fire, the head of the firefighters directorate said. No fatal casualties were reported, but an Ethiopian national was taken to hospital for treatment after he jumped from a window to escape the fire.

Brigadier Khalid Al Mikrad said that speculation about the causes of the fire at Suq Al Hareem (Women’s Market) should be avoided.

“All possibilities remain open and the investigations will reveal whether it was an accident or if it was arson,” he said, quoted by Al Anba daily.

However, he said that three shops have been identified as possible sources of the fire that was brought under control by 40 fighters from several units.

The fire prompted officials to issue calls for better safety standards and better precaution measures.