A devastating fire has tragically engulfed a shopping center in Iraq, leading to the loss of over 60 lives, as confirmed by Iraq’s interior ministry.
The blaze took hold in the early hours of Thursday in a recently inaugurated, five-story shopping complex situated in Kut, the capital of Iraq’s eastern Wasit province. According to reliable sources from the interior ministry, most of the 61 victims succumbed to smoke inhalation in the building’s restrooms, while 14 more suffered severe burns. Furthermore, some 45 individuals were rescued from the flaming structure.
This development follows earlier reports that rescue teams battled dense smoke and debris for hours to recover bodies trapped within the gutted structure. In the aftermath of this calamity, Iraqi authorities have announced three days of national mourning as search and recovery operations continue.
The governor of Wasit, Mohammed Mayahi, has labeled the blaze a national catastrophe. Reports indicate that many of the victims are believed to have been entire families caught in the fire, with children sadly figuring among the deceased. “The day is painful for all of Wasit,” he solemnly declared.
An investigation committee has been mobilized to ascertain the cause of the fire, with a mandate to determine if the unfortunate incident was a result of violations of fire codes or construction standards. This incident occurred less than a week after the Corniche shopping mall opened its doors to the public.
Reports from the ground suggest that legal complaints have been lodged against the building owner, the mall operator, and other parties implicated in the case. “There will be no leniency,” warned Mayahi. The significance of this should not be overlooked. The incident in Kut echoes a series of similar tragedies in Iraq in recent years. Particularly, in 2023, more than 100 individuals perished when a fire, ignited by pyrotechnic devices, swept through a wedding hall in Hamdaniyah. That catastrophe sparked national outrage, raising urgent questions about public venue safety and allegations of corruption in the approval of business licenses.
The investigation’s outcome will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications not only for the parties directly involved but also for the nation’s approach to safety regulations and their enforcement.