27-9-2023 (BAGHDAD) Tragedy struck in northern Iraq as a devastating fire broke out during a wedding, claiming the lives of at least 100 individuals and leaving 150 others injured. The bride and groom were also among the victims, according to reports from local media.
The horrific incident unfolded in the Al-Hamdaniya district within Iraq’s northern Nineveh province late on a fateful Tuesday evening. While the exact cause of the blaze remains uncertain, initial accounts suggest it ignited following the ignition of fireworks.
Photographs posted by the Iraqi news agency Nina depict a harrowing scene, with scores of firefighters battling the flames, and images from local journalists on social media reveal the charred remnants of the event hall.
Authorities suspect that flammable panels used in the building may have facilitated the rapid spread of the fire, resulting in portions of the ceiling collapsing.
Iraq’s civil defense directorate commented on the situation, stating, “The fire led to the collapse of parts of the hall as a result of the use of highly flammable, low-cost building materials that collapse within minutes when fire breaks out.” Their remarks were conveyed by the Nina news agency.
In the early hours of Wednesday, firefighters were observed combing through the wreckage in a quest to locate survivors, as recorded in video footage captured at the scene by a correspondent for the Reuters news agency.
Witnesses recounted a horrifying scene, with hundreds of celebrants present when the conflagration erupted at around 10:45 local time (19:45 GMT). Imad Yohana, a 34-year-old survivor, described the situation, saying, “We saw the fire pulsating, coming out of the hall. Those who managed got out and those who didn’t got stuck. Even those who made their way out were broken.”
In response to the calamity, Iraqi authorities dispatched ambulances and medical teams to the scene. The nation’s prime minister issued directives to “mobilise all efforts to provide relief to those affected by the unfortunate incident,” as stated in a communication from his office on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter.
The injured have been transported to hospitals throughout the Nineveh region, with the region’s governor indicating that the number of casualties may not be final and could potentially increase.
In the town of Hamdaniyah, situated to the east of the region’s capital Mosul, dozens of individuals arrived at the primary hospital to donate blood, extending their assistance to aid the injured in this grievous situation.
