At least 60 dead in Iraq hypermarket fire
Governor says cause of fire to be announced within 48 hours
DUBAI: At least 60 people have died and 11 remain missing after a massive fire engulfed a five-storey shopping mall in al-Kut city, eastern Iraq.
The blaze broke out late Wednesday at Hyper Mall, which had opened just five days earlier.
Dramatic videos shared online showed the structure consumed by flames overnight as firefighters struggled to control the inferno. Ambulances continued transporting victims into the early hours of Thursday, with local hospitals overwhelmed. An AFP correspondent reported seeing charred bodies inside the emergency ward.
What caused the fire?
Wasit province governor Mohammed al-Miyahi told INA that initial findings on the cause of the blaze would be announced within 48 hours, according to the state news agency (INA). He added that the number of victims – both dead and injured – had reached around 50 at one point but later confirmed at least 60 deaths, as reported by Reuters.
Legal action taken
Authorities have filed lawsuits against the mall and building owners, INA reported, quoting the governor.
Meanwhile, recovery teams are still combing through debris in search of victims yet to be identified or recovered. Al-Miyahi has declared three days of mourning across the province.