A fire at a five-story hypermarket in Kut, a city in Iraq’s Wasit province, killed at least 69 people late Wednesday, July 16, according to local health officials and police sources. The fire broke out just a week after the mall opened, trapping dozens inside. Iraq’s Interior Ministry said most victims died from suffocation and that 14 bodies were so badly burned they required DNA testing for identification.
The cause remains under investigation. Initial police reports indicate that the fire may have started on a floor selling perfumes and cosmetics. Eyewitnesses described chaos as flames blocked exits.
“Raging fires trapped many people inside the mall, and everyone was desperately trying to find a way out,” a nearby resident told Reuters.
Civil defense teams rescued more than 45 people.
Some victims were found in bathrooms, according to Iraq’s Interior Ministry. A Reuters witness described seeing the charred bodies of women and children. Officials said 11 people are still missing, and more bodies may be beneath the debris.
What actions are officials taking after the fire?
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered an immediate investigation and declared a period of national mourning. The Wasit governor announced legal action against the mall and building owners. He promised preliminary findings within 48 hours, according to the state-run Iraqi News Agency.
The deadly blaze follows a pattern of fatal fires in Iraq blamed on poor building standards. In 2023, over 100 people were killed in a wedding hall fire. In 2021, as many as 92 people died in a hospital fire fueled by illegal cladding.
Who’s to Blame for the deadly fire?
Iraq’s Federal Commission of Integrity also launched a parallel investigation into the fire’s causes. A field team from the Wasit Investigation Office reported that the five-story mall lacked a fire suppression system and had no emergency exits, allowing flames to spread quickly and trap dozens.
The team also cited failures by the Civil Defense Directorate to enforce safety standards at the time of the mall’s opening. All records, safety documents and Civil Defense observations have been submitted to an integrity court judge to determine which parties may be held legally responsible.
