Kuwait Times

Published Date: February 27, 2009

KUWAIT: A wedding ceremony in Jahra met with a tragic end on Wednesday night when a fire broke out at a women's marriage hall. A 70- year -old Saudi woman and a 61-year -old Kuwaiti woman died of smoke inhalation. Another 59 women and five children suffered various degrees of burns and smoke inhalation. The injured were admitted to Farwaniya and Al-Sabah hospitals for treatment.

Relatives of the women initially blocked firefighters from entering the wedding hall, an action that some suggest may have contributed to the disaster. According to an eyewitness, when firemen first arrived at the scene, they were prevented from entering the hall by some men (apparently relatives of some of the women inside) on the grounds that it was an all-women place. "You can't get in," they shouted.

According to eyewitnesses, the hall was filled with smoke at first, which frightened the guests. They panicked and a stampede broke out when flames began to engulf the area.

Witnesses added that what aggravated the situation was the fact that many women who were trying to flee the scene, stopped to put on their veils and head covers. They also said that the hall accommodated 220 women and children.

Commenting on the blaze, Kuwait Fire Services Directorate (KFSD)'s PR Manager, Nabil Al-Husseinan said that three fire brigades, two from Jahra and one from Sulaibikhat contained the fire, reported Al-Qabas. He added that 22 ambulances were also dispatched to the scene and that firemen had to smash windows and doors to free the trapped women. Al-Husseinan also said that a paramedic and a policeman were injured while rescuing the women.

Faleh Al-Owaihan, the Municipal Council Member said that preliminary reports suggest that the fire was caused due to an electrical overload. He, however, blamed the KFSD for failing to shut down the hall since it lacks an adequate fire-extinguishing system ever since it was first established. Further investigations are still in progress.

Security officials also noted that some of these relatives gathered outside Jahra hospital and that some clashed with the police and insulted them.