At least 61 people have been confirmed dead and 45 others rescued after a massive fire engulfed a newly opened hypermarket in Kut, eastern Iraq, the Interior Ministry announced on Thursday.
The blaze, which broke out overnight in the five-storey shopping complex, also left several people missing, raising fears that the death toll could rise. Authorities said 14 bodies were badly charred, complicating identification.
Social media videos captured flames ripping through the building as firefighters battled to contain the inferno. The mall, which opened just a week ago, housed a supermarket and a restaurant.
Wasit Province Governor Mohammed al-Mayahi described the disaster as a “tragedy and calamity” and declared three days of mourning. “Families were dining and shopping when the fire started. We have filed lawsuits against the building owner and mall management,” he told the state-run Iraqi News Agency.
Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani ordered an immediate investigation, with findings expected within 48 hours. Officials suspect poor building standards may have worsened the tragedy.
