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Around 50 people were killed or injured after a fire tore through a shopping mall in the eastern Iraqi city of Kut late Wednesday, according to Iraqi state media.
Wasit province governor Mohammed al-Miyahi told the official Iraqi News Agency (INA) that the number of victims had reached about 50, describing them as both fatalities and injured persons.
An official from the Wasit province health department stated that the death toll had reached 55, with rescue teams continuing to search for missing individuals in the aftermath of the fire.
The blaze erupted at the Hyper Mall, which had opened only five days earlier. While the cause remains unknown, an AFP correspondent at the scene reported that the fire appeared to have started on the first floor of the building.
Emergency response teams were still transporting victims as late as 4:00 a.m. local time (GMT +3) on Thursday. Hospitals in Kut, a city located around 160 kilometers (100 miles) southeast of Baghdad, were reported to be filled with casualties.
An investigation into the cause of the blaze was underway, according to Governor Miyahi, who noted that preliminary findings were expected within 48 hours. He described the incident as a “major shock” and called for a serious reassessment of safety protocols.
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