Kuwait City  - The toll rose to at least 44 women and children killed and dozens more injured in a fire that broke out Saturday night in a women's tent at a wedding in Kuwait, al-Arabiya news channel reported on Sunday.

At least some were believed to have been killed in a stampede that followed the fire at the wedding in the Ayoun area of Jahra, west of Kuwait City. At least 75 people were injured, al-Arabiya quoted Kuwaiti health minister Hilal al-Sayer as saying.

In Kuwait, men and women celebrate weddings separately and children attend the women's party.

The cause of the fire was yet to be determined and an investigation had begun, officials said. However, reports have it that the tent did not meet safety standards. According to witnesses, the tent had no emergency exits.

At least 20 fire trucks and dozens of firemen battled the blaze, according to the director general of the fire department, Major General Jassim al-Mansouri. He said the death toll was expected to rise as the tent was packed to capacity and many of the injured were in serious condition. (dpa)