The blaze, which erupted just a week after the mall's grand opening, has prompted mourning and calls for accountability from local officials.
**Tragedy Strikes Iraq as Shopping Centre Fire Claims 61 Lives**
**Tragedy Strikes Iraq as Shopping Centre Fire Claims 61 Lives**
At least 61 people have died and many remain missing following a devastating fire at a newly opened shopping centre in Kut, Iraq.
The inferno engulfed the Corniche Hypermarket in the eastern city of Kut on Wednesday night, just seven days after its inauguration, leading to a catastrophic loss of life. Local officials reported that the death toll has reached at least 61, with many individuals still unaccounted for. Eyewitness footage shared on social media showed intense flames engorging several floors of the structure, while firefighters bravely attempted rescue operations from the building's roof.
Regional governor Mohammed al-Miyahi expressed his profound sorrow over the calamity, declaring three days of mourning in the region. Authorities are now poised to pursue legal action against the shopping centre's owners as investigations into the fire's cause commence. "A tragedy and calamity has befallen us," Governor al-Miyahi remarked, emphasizing the heightened urgency for accountability following the disaster.
The fire triggered an immediate response from emergency services, with numerous ambulances rushing to local hospitals throughout the night, where casualties continued to be transported. The Iraqi Interior Ministry cited that many victims succumbed to smoke inhalation, with heartbreaking accounts emerging from survivors and bereaved families alike. Nasir al-Quraishi, a local doctor, notably lost five family members, recounting how a sudden explosion of an air conditioner ignited the flames, trapping many.
As families desperately sought news of their missing loved ones, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani extended condolences and called for a thorough investigation into the incident. Commentators have pointed out that safety protocols are often inadequately enforced in Iraqi establishments, a precarious practice rooted in a legacy of corruption and mismanagement in the construction sector.
This tragic event is reminiscent of previous disasters that have struck Iraq, including a horrific fire at a Christian wedding celebration in northern Iraq earlier this year, which left over 100 dead, showcasing the pressing need for enhanced safety measures across the nation.
Regional governor Mohammed al-Miyahi expressed his profound sorrow over the calamity, declaring three days of mourning in the region. Authorities are now poised to pursue legal action against the shopping centre's owners as investigations into the fire's cause commence. "A tragedy and calamity has befallen us," Governor al-Miyahi remarked, emphasizing the heightened urgency for accountability following the disaster.
The fire triggered an immediate response from emergency services, with numerous ambulances rushing to local hospitals throughout the night, where casualties continued to be transported. The Iraqi Interior Ministry cited that many victims succumbed to smoke inhalation, with heartbreaking accounts emerging from survivors and bereaved families alike. Nasir al-Quraishi, a local doctor, notably lost five family members, recounting how a sudden explosion of an air conditioner ignited the flames, trapping many.
As families desperately sought news of their missing loved ones, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani extended condolences and called for a thorough investigation into the incident. Commentators have pointed out that safety protocols are often inadequately enforced in Iraqi establishments, a precarious practice rooted in a legacy of corruption and mismanagement in the construction sector.
This tragic event is reminiscent of previous disasters that have struck Iraq, including a horrific fire at a Christian wedding celebration in northern Iraq earlier this year, which left over 100 dead, showcasing the pressing need for enhanced safety measures across the nation.
