Kuwait's interior ministry says 36 people died when a fire broke out in a tent being used by women and children at a wedding near Kuwait City.

The fire began late on Saturday evening while the guests were celebrating the marriage at a party in the al-Jahra area, west of the capital, the BBC reported.

Up to 60 women and children were also injured, many in a stampede that followed the blaze, officials said.

Four teams of fire-fighters were dispatched to the scene, as well as a large number of ambulances needed to take the injured to hospital.

Officials said the authorities had had difficulty evacuating the injured because of the large numbers of anxious relatives at the scene.

Wedding celebrations in the conservative Gulf state are held separately for men and women.

Children attend the women's party.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. An investigation has begun.

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