KutFire

A tragic inferno swept through a newly opened hypermarket in Kut, a city in eastern Iraq’s Wasit province, late Wednesday night, leaving at least 60 people dead and 11 others missing, according to local authorities. 💔 The blaze, which engulfed a five-story building housing a hypermarket and restaurant, has been described as one of the deadliest commercial tragedies in Iraq in recent years. 😢

The fire broke out at the Corniche Hypermarket, a shopping center that had opened just five days prior, as families were dining and shopping. 🛒🍽️ Videos circulating on social media showed towering flames consuming the multi-story structure, with firefighters battling to contain the blaze into the early hours of Thursday. 🚒 The intense heat and smoke made rescue efforts challenging, with civil defense teams working tirelessly to save those trapped inside.

“We have compiled a list of 59 victims whose identities have been confirmed, but one body was so badly burned that it has been extremely difficult to identify,” a city health official reported. “More bodies remain unrecovered under the fire debris,” said Ali al-Mayahi, a local official. 😞 Ambulances transported casualties to hospitals in Kut, approximately 160 kilometers southeast of Baghdad, until 4:00 AM, filling hospital wards with the injured and the deceased. 🏥

Wasit province governor Mohammed al-Mayahi called the incident “a tragedy and a calamity,” announcing a three-day period of mourning for the victims. 🕊️ He noted that many of the deceased included women and children, with entire families found charred in the wreckage. Legal action has been initiated against the hypermarket’s owner, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire, with initial findings expected within 48 hours. ⚖️ One survivor claimed to AFP that an air conditioner explosion may have sparked the blaze, though this remains unconfirmed.

Iraq’s construction sector is notorious for lax safety standards, exacerbated by decades of conflict that have left infrastructure in disrepair. 🏢 Fires are a recurring hazard, especially during the scorching summer months when temperatures can soar to 50°C (122°F). 🌡️ This tragedy follows a pattern of deadly incidents, including a 2023 wedding hall fire that claimed over 100 lives and a 2021 hospital fire in a COVID unit that killed more than 60.

As rescue operations continue and the community grapples with this profound loss, the people of Kut mourn the lives cut short in this catastrophic event. 💔 The nation stands in solidarity, seeking answers and justice for those affected.