At least 41 women and children died Saturday night when a fire broke out inside a women's tent at a wedding in Kuwait. News accounts of the tragedy say the blaze only lasted three minutes before it was put out, leaving behind piles of corpses so blackened that DNA testing will be necessary for identification. As I write, it was not even clear whether the bride had survived.

Most of the deaths were the result of a stampede at the tent's only entrance, Kuwaiti investigators told journalists. More than 60 people were injured, many seriously, and the death toll is expected to rise.

In Kuwait, as in many Muslim nations, women and men celebrate marriages in separate tents or halls. These are not typically flimsy structures, either. I remember sitting in a candidate's tent during Kuwaiti elections, and it had air-conditioning, a long buffet table, and comfortable diwan-style furniture.

That, authorities say, may be part of the problem. Electrical appliances, open-flame buffets, highly flammable furniture stuffing, burning incense, high summer temperatures and large crowds of people make for a lethal combination.

Authorities had not yet determined the cause of the fire by Sunday night, but as the AP story on the incident notes: The devastating fire was likely to result in restrictions on the tradition of holding celebrations in such tents, a custom which is rooted in Kuwait's nomadic heritage and endures in tribal areas of the country.

Kuwaiti or Kuwait-based bloggers reflected their country's grief -- and anger -- over the deaths. One blogger, Kuwaitism, is calling for blood donations for the survivors. Other bloggers have posted Arabic-language news reports on the incident, and comments have poured in. Here are some sample comments from the blog of a Lebanese couple who live and work in Kuwait:

This is terrible. Those tents are a fire hazard of the highest proportion. I understand it’s a cultural thing – but the government should step up and put restrictions/regulations to control this.

Fire Safety rules must be taken in such places not only at malls and important buildings.
that’s the second huge fire in a wedding party at the same area in the same year.
Allah Yer7amhom

I think the Government should build Community Halls for such events complete with all modern amenities. This will certainly reduce such accidents. Its very difficult to digest the fact that innocent children have died due to no fault of theirs.

its sad to hear that top generals dont dare say that there was no safety concern at all when setting up the tent afraid of a harsh bedoiun response, thats one reason kuwait cant progress, its a tragic event, but God created us with brains and we have to face reality, and they should address the cause of the fire, and not say its not important we just hope God puts them in heaven, another tragic event like this will happen if the govt is to scared to address basic safety issues, and stop worrying that the people are kill them or something

there is also talks that it was an arson crime….they said that the husband first wife had threatened to kill the 2nd wife if she married her husband….the crim scene indicates that as well….the fire was on all four sides of the tent and there was benzene….this is so sad

This is really sad, I can’t stop my tears