MOSUL (IRAQ): A devastating fire, reportedly ignited by fireworks used in celebration of a Christian wedding, swept through a crowded wedding hall in northern Iraq, leading to the loss of around 100 lives and leaving approximately 150 others injured. Authorities fear the death toll may rise as investigations continue into the incident.
The tragic incident occurred in the Hamdaniya area of Iraq's Nineveh province, situated just outside the city of Mosul. While the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, footage broadcasted by the Kurdish television news channel Rudaw showed fireworks setting the event's floor ablaze, causing a chandelier to catch fire.
Witnesses, including 50-year-old attendee Faten Youssef, shared that the fire began during the bride and groom's slow dance, quickly spreading through flammable decorations and causing the ceiling to collapse. Many struggled to escape as flames and debris blocked exit routes. Efforts to rescue those trapped were met with harrowing scenes, including children with severe burns.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, varying casualty figures emerged. Initial reports from the Health Ministry cited over 100 fatalities and 150 injuries, with Nineveh province health officials indicating 114 deaths. However, Iraqi Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari later cited 93 fatalities. A Health Ministry official explained that extensive burns made the identification process difficult, leaving the final death toll uncertain.
Father Rudi Saffar Khoury, a priest at the wedding, described the incident as a "disaster in every sense of the word." Although the Nineveh Plains, the historical homeland of Iraq's Christian community, was liberated from ISIS six years ago, some towns remain in ruins with limited services, prompting many Christians to emigrate.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered an investigation into the fire and called upon Interior and Health officials to provide assistance. The United Nations mission in Iraq extended its condolences and expressed shock over the incident.
Initial forensic reports indicated a lack of safety measures at the venue, leading to the arrest of nine workers involved in organizing the event. Choony Naboo, one of the venue's owners, declined to comment, and civil defense officials noted the use of flammable "sandwich panel" cladding on the hall's exterior, which is prohibited in Iraq.
These panels, known for not meeting rigorous safety standards, can exacerbate fires on buildings without fire-resistant features. The incident draws parallels with previous fires in Iraq, including a hospital blaze in Nasiriyah in July 2021, resulting in significant casualties.
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