Iraq Mall Fire Kills 63 in Wasit Province: Tragedy Sparks National Mourning and Probe

Watan-The death toll has risen to 63, with 40 injured, following a massive fire that broke out on Thursday in a shopping center in Iraq’s Wasit Province.

The Iraqi News Agency (INA) quoted an unnamed medical source saying: “The death toll from the Kut fire (the provincial capital south of Baghdad) has risen to 63 martyrs and 40 injured.”

In a statement posted to its official Facebook page, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior said it “mourns the victims of the horrific fire that broke out yesterday in a five-story commercial building in the center of Wasit Province, which housed a restaurant and a hypermarket that had opened just seven days earlier.”

The ministry reported that “the painful fire claimed the lives of 61 innocent civilians, most of whom died from smoke inhalation in the bathrooms due to thick smoke. Fourteen unidentified charred bodies were also recovered in this tragic incident.”

Despite the severity of the situation, civil defense teams managed to rescue more than 45 people trapped inside the building, the ministry said. It also noted that the Minister of Interior had ordered the formation of a high-level investigation committee, led by his technical advisor and including the head of forensic evidence and several senior investigators and specialists, to determine the true causes of the fire and identify failures and responsibilities transparently.

The ministry stressed it “will not hesitate to hold accountable any party proven to be negligent or responsible, in adherence to justice and to ensure the safety of citizens.” It added that “the results of the comprehensive forensic investigation will be announced as soon as they are completed, in full transparency before the public.”

A reporter from Agence France-Presse in Kut said preliminary reports indicate the fire began on the first floor of the six-story building and reached the top floor. He reported seeing charred bodies in one of the city’s hospitals, which remained overwhelmed with ambulances transporting victims until 4 a.m. local time (01:00 GMT).

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani issued a statement expressing deep condolences to the families of the victims. He ordered the dispatch of a fully equipped medical team to support emergency services treating the injured.

He also called for “an immediate investigation into the causes and circumstances of the fire, a thorough technical inquiry to identify points of failure, and strict measures to prevent similar disasters in the future.”

The governor of Wasit declared three days of mourning for the victims and promised that initial investigation findings would be made public within 48 hours. He also pledged “strict measures against those found responsible.”