At least 49 people have been killed after a fire broke out in a building that housed workers in Kuwait, according to authorities.

The blaze early on Wednesday morning in the southern Mangaf district also injured dozens of people and that building is reported to be heavily populated with foreign labourers, mostly Indians.

On the other hand, Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad al-Yousuf al-Sabah ordered the arrest of the building’s owner during a visit to the site. Authorities said the fire had been brought under control and were investigating what caused it.

Later on Wednesday, the Interior Ministry revised the death toll up to 49, from 41 issued earlier, after forensic teams scoured the charred building.