In Iraq, a fire broke out during a wedding ceremony, resulting in the death of at least 113 people, with over 150 others injured. The incident occurred in the Al-Hamdaniya district of the northern Ninawa Province on Tuesday night, according to local time.
The government of Iraq has been informed about this incident through state-run media.
According to local news reports, the tragic incident occurred on Tuesday evening when a fire erupted at the event, and both men and women were among the casualties. The cause of the fire is still unknown, although preliminary information suggests that the fire broke out shortly after fireworks were set off at the ceremony.
A picture posted by the Iraqi news agency Nina shows firefighters attempting to control the fire. Local journalists have shared images on social media showing that everything at the wedding venue has been reduced to ashes.
Furthermore, due to the presence of flammable materials in the building, a portion of the ceiling collapsed.
The Civil Defense Directorate in Iraq has informed the news agency Nina, stating, “A portion of the hall was destroyed due to the fire, as it was constructed using flammable materials. Additionally, low-quality materials were used in the building’s construction.”
In a video posted by a Reuters journalist, emergency workers were seen searching inside the ruins early Wednesday morning, trying to determine whether anyone was trapped or if there were any casualties.
Eyewitnesses have reported that there were hundreds of people celebrating in the building at around 11 PM local time when the fire broke out.
Imad Youhana, a resident who survived the fire, said, “We saw the fire spreading toward the room. Those who could escape came out, and others got trapped.”
Authorities have dispatched ambulances and healthcare workers to the scene, as announced by the government. Injured individuals have been transported to various hospitals in the Ninawa region, and the Governor of the region has indicated that the number of casualties may increase.
Many people in the Hamdaniya district have gathered at the main hospital to donate blood for the injured. This incident occurred in the eastern part of Mosul, the capital of the Ninawa region.
Source: BBC
