2 Kuwaiti firefighters injured in line of duty

Two firefighters were injured while on duty late Friday after a floor collapsed on them in a huge fire that enveloped a building in Mahboula, south of Kuwait City, fire services said Saturday. "Early today, the firefighters were able to bring under control a fire that broke out in one of the compound buildings. However, one firefighter was injured when a solid object fell on his back while the other suffocated due to smoke inhalation" read a statement by the Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD) on Saturday. "Both firemen were carried to a nearby hospital to receive medical treatment," it added. Late Friday, firefighters and rescue units responded to a call over the blaze in the 1,000 sq km nine-story residential building. The suburb's firefighters, along with others from six areas - Qurain, Al-Zoor, Mina Abdullah, The Capital, Al-Salmiyah and Farwaniya - who were dispatched for backup, proceeded to immediately evacuate inhabitants of the building. According to the statement, the fire began in the basement and spread throughout the building. Some nearby vehicles and motorcycles recieved damage due to the blaze, read the statement, however, no civilian casualties were reported. It is understood that the owner of the building violated safety regulations by keeping all exists and staircases closed shut, making it difficult for firefighters to carry out their role in a usual manner.