Tragedy Strikes: 61 Dead in Kut Shopping Centre Blaze

A fire that engulfed a five-storey shopping centre in Kut, Iraq, tragically left 61 people dead, as local officials report many still unaccounted for. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, prompting calls for accountability and improved safety measures.

A tragic event unfolded in Kut, Iraq, on Wednesday night, when a fierce fire erupted at a five-storey shopping centre, claiming at least 61 lives. The Corniche Hypermarket, which had just opened a week earlier, was quickly engulfed in flames, leading to desperate rescue attempts by firefighters who were seen in videos attempting to save individuals from the building's roof.

Local officials indicated that several individuals remained unaccounted for amid the chaos. “A tragedy and a calamity has befallen us,” said Mohammed al-Miyahi, the regional governor, who announced that legal steps would be taken against the shopping centre’s owner following the incident. Videos from the scene depicted flames raging through multiple levels of the mall, reinforcing the turmoil of the event.

Reports revealed that many victims perished from smoke inhalation in restrooms, and among the deceased were 14 bodies that have yet to be identified. The interior ministry reported that 45 people were rescued from the inferno, while ambulance services continued to transport casualties to local hospitals. Eyewitness accounts detailed the horror as an air conditioning unit exploded on the second floor, leading to the uncontrollable blaze.

Among those affected was Nasir al-Quraishi, who lost five family members during the tragic event. “We had gone to the mall to eat dinner and escape power cuts at home,” he lamented. Ali Kadhim, searching for his cousin and their family, voiced his anguish, saying, “We don’t know what happened to them.”

In response to the disaster, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani extended condolences to the victims’ families and called for an immediate investigation. He urged the interior ministry to identify the fire’s causes and rectify any safety lapses. The newly opened mall, housing a restaurant and various shops, has now drawn scrutiny as the nation grapples with the implications of inadequate safety measures often seen in Iraqi construction projects.

Previous incidents of mass casualties in Iraq, linked to fire and safety failures, amplify calls for reform and stricter enforcement of safety standards.