A tragic incident unfolds in Iraq as a fire in a shopping centre results in significant loss of life, raising concerns over safety regulations and potential accountability.
Iraq shopping mall inferno claims 61 lives, search for survivors continues
Iraq shopping mall inferno claims 61 lives, search for survivors continues
A devastating fire engulfs a newly opened shopping centre in Kut, leading to multiple casualties and a desperate search for missing individuals.
A catastrophic fire at a newly opened shopping centre in Kut, Iraq, has left at least 61 people dead and many others reported missing, according to local officials. The blaze broke out at the Corniche Hypermarket on Wednesday night, just seven days after its opening, but has since been brought under control. Eyewitness videos posted on social media depict harrowing scenes, with firefighters rescuing individuals from the building's roof while state media confirms that several people remain unaccounted for.
"This tragedy and calamity has struck our community," exclaimed regional governor Mohammed al-Miyahi, announcing that the mall's owner would face legal repercussions as a result of the fire’s devastating toll. He has also mandated three days of mourning in light of the incident. Initial reports suggest the cause of the fire remained undetermined, although witness statements indicate that it may have begun with an air conditioning explosion on the second floor.
The health ministry reported that 45 individuals were rescued from inside the mall, while ambulances continued to transport casualties to local hospitals. Among the deceased were 14 charred bodies that authorities have yet to identify. "The tragic fire claimed the lives of 61 innocent citizens, most of whom suffocated in bathrooms," remarked an interior ministry spokesperson.
Witness accounts describe the mall as a popular gathering place, where families sought relief from power cuts and daily life struggles. "We went to the mall to enjoy some food and escape the heat," recounted a survivor, Nasir al-Quraishi, who lost five family members in the inferno.
Efforts to locate missing persons have been frantic, with individuals searching hospitals for loved ones. Ali Kadhim expressed anguish while searching for his cousin, who, along with his wife and three children, is still missing. Moataz Karim reported identifying the bodies of two relatives, emphasizing the mall's lack of a proper fire extinguishing system.
In response to the disaster, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani extended condolences to the grieving families and ordered the interior ministry to conduct an immediate investigation into the fire's origins and any safety oversights. The incident has reignited concerns regarding adherence to safety standards in Iraqi construction projects, amid a history of mismanagement and corruption. In the past, similar tragedies have struck the nation, with a fire during a Christian wedding party in 2023 claiming over 100 lives, and more than 90 fatalities recorded during a hospital fire in 2021.
