A massive fire tore through a newly opened shopping mall in al-Kut, eastern Iraq, late Wednesday, killing at least 61 people, NaijNaira can report.
The Iraqi News Agency said many victims died from suffocation as the flames spread through the five-storey building, which had only been operating for a week.
Civil defence teams managed to rescue over 45 people from the burning complex, which included a supermarket and restaurant in addition to retail shops.
Officials confirmed that 14 bodies were burned beyond recognition, and several people remain unaccounted for as recovery efforts continue.
Footage shared by local media showed the building fully engulfed in flames as emergency crews worked through the night.
Governor Mohammed al-Mayyeh announced three days of mourning and said investigations have begun, with legal action already filed against the mall’s owners.
“We will not be lenient with those directly or indirectly responsible for this incident,” the governor said in a public statement.
Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani has ordered the interior minister to investigate and implement safety measures to prevent similar disasters.
Iraq has seen repeated fire tragedies linked to poor building standards, including deadly incidents in Nasiriyah in 2021 and Hamdaniya in 2023.
Article updated 3 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
