Local authorities and rescue services said that the blaze that tore through a wedding party in Iraqi Nineveh region resulted in at least 113 fatalities and over 150 injuries.
Hassan al-Allaq, the deputy governor of Nineveh, informed the media that 113 deaths had been officially verified so far. On the evening of Tuesday, the fire was said to have begun at around 22:45 local time.
The governor of the province of Nineveh issued a warning early on Wednesday, saying there were still undetermined numbers of victims of the fire. Najim al-Jubouri’s assertion implies that the death toll might potentially go up. “All efforts are being made to provide relief to those affected by the unfortunate accident,” Iraqi health ministry official announced.
Over 150 individuals were reportedly hurt in the fire, according to earlier reports from Iraqi official outlets. The wedding party was about to take place in the province’s Hamdaniyah area when the event venue caught fire. Hamdaniyah is situated away from Mosul in the north, roughly 250 miles northwest of the capital.
Initial reports, according to Iraq’s civil defense, suggested that the blaze may have been started by pyrotechnics used during the celebration. Civil defense officials stated in an announcement early on Wednesday that “preliminary information indicates that fireworks were used during a wedding, which triggered a fire in the hall.”
Reasons Behind the Wedding Blaze
In Iraq, fireworks are a typical part of wedding festivities. At the time the fire started, there were about one thousand guests at the event.
The massive fire is thought to have been caused in part by flammable materials used in the building of the event venue. There didn’t seem to be any “proper safety measures in place” in the building, such as evacuation routes.
Prefabricated components that were “highly combustible” and “contravened safety standards” were also present inside the event venue, according to Iraq’s civil defense. Civil defense authorities stated in their statement that the use of extremely flammable, inexpensive building materials contributed to sections of the roof falling during the fire.
Because the panels included plastic, the “release of hazardous gases connected to the burning of the tiles” increased the risk.
Photos from the fire’s wreckage showed rescue personnel scrambling over debris and a fallen roof at the wrecked event hall, which had twisted and burnt metal.
According to a statement posted online by the prime minister’s office, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered an inquiry into the incident and requested assistance from the interior and health ministries of Iraq.
According to the health ministry, the bulk of the wounded are enduring burns and asphyxia, and there were also mass smashes at the site.
