This handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian State Emergency Service on May 6, 2025 shows a firefighter extinguishing the fire in a building following an air-attack in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A Russian ballistic missile strike on MAy 6, 2025 on the Ukrainian city of Sumy killed three people and wounded 11, with children were among both dead and injured, authorities said. (Photo by Handout / Ukrainian State Emergency Service / AFP)
A devastating fire swept through a recently opened shopping mall in Kut, eastern Iraq, killing at least 61 people overnight, officials confirmed on Thursday. The inferno, which broke out late Wednesday, left families shattered as many searched desperately for missing loved ones.
Authorities said most victims died from suffocation, many trapped inside bathrooms, while one man told AFP that five of his relatives perished in an elevator.
The fire reportedly began on the first floor of the five-storey Corniche Hypermarket Mall before rapidly spreading throughout the building. While the cause is still under investigation, a survivor claimed the fire was triggered by an exploding air conditioner.
Disturbing videos on social media showed people, including children, stranded on the rooftop, crying for help. At the local forensic department, an AFP journalist reported seeing charred remains as family members waited in anguish.
Ali Kadhim, 51, said he had been moving between the hospital and mall all night searching for his missing cousin, his wife, and their three children. “We don’t know what happened to them,” he said anxiously.
The interior ministry confirmed the deaths of 61 people and said 14 of the bodies were burned beyond recognition. The state news agency INA later reported a higher toll—63 dead and 40 injured.
Wasit Governor Mohammed al-Miyahi said the victims included men, women, and children, while civil defence teams managed to rescue over 45 people. Inside the city’s hospital, overwhelmed staff attended to injured survivors, as heartbroken relatives gathered in mourning.
Among the victims was the family of Dr. Nasir al-Quraishi, who told AFP: “We just went out to eat and escape the power cuts. Suddenly, an air conditioner exploded, and flames spread. We couldn’t get out.”
Another mourner, Moataz Karim, waited outside the morgue after identifying two relatives’ remains, one of whom had only started working at the mall three days prior. “There were no fire safety systems,” he said in frustration.
Fires are tragically common in Iraq due to widespread neglect of safety regulations and decaying infrastructure. Extreme summer heat, often reaching 50°C (122°F), further exacerbates fire risks.
In recent years, Iraq has witnessed similar tragedies, including a 2023 wedding hall fire that killed over 100 people and a 2021 hospital blaze that claimed more than 60 lives.
Governor Miyahi announced plans to sue the mall’s owner and contractor, describing the incident as a “wake-up call” for stricter enforcement of safety standards. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has ordered a full investigation.
Three days of national mourning have been declared, and condolences poured in from countries including Egypt, Iran, France, and the United States.
AFP
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