A devastating fire broke out at the Corniche Hypermarket Iraqi mall in al-Kut, resulting in at least 60 confirmed deaths and 11 missing persons. The fire, which occurred on Wednesday, destroyed the multi-storey shopping centre just five days after it opened. Social media footage showed flames engulfing the Iraqi mall as firefighters worked through the night to contain the blaze.
The Iraqi mall, located in al-Kut, about 160 kilometers southeast of Baghdad, was crowded at the time, with many families visiting to escape the summer heat and ongoing power outages. Authorities confirmed that the fire’s cause may have been an electrical fault, though negligence in enforcing building safety codes is also being investigated.
The death toll, confirmed by health authorities and police sources, reached at least 60 by Thursday, though many victims remain unidentified due to severe burns. Rescue teams continue to search through the debris, with some bodies still trapped beneath the wreckage. Firefighters and medical personnel rushed to the scene, with ambulances transporting casualties well into the early morning hours.
City officials, including provincial governor Mohammed al-Miyahi, expressed their shock at the scale of the disaster. “A tragedy has befallen us,” he said, adding that lawsuits had been filed against the building owner and mall operator. Authorities also promised a review of safety measures in commercial buildings across the region.
This horrific incident at the Iraqi mall has shaken the city, and ongoing investigations will determine the full scope of the disaster. The city of al-Kut now faces the painful task of identifying the victims and ensuring that the necessary safety measures are put in place to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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