On July 16, 2025, a devastating fire erupted at the newly opened Hyper Mall in al‑Kut, a city in Wasit province, eastern Iraq.
The blaze, which lasted approximately 12 hours, ripped through the five‑storey shopping centre, claiming at least 69 lives, with 11 people missing and over 40 injured
Emergency responders rescued around 45 individuals from the inferno . Many victims, primarily women and children, succumbed to suffocation, with a number of charred bodies found in bathrooms and lift shafts. Among the deceased were 14 unidentified victims .
Local officials described the building as deficient in basic fire safety infrastructure—lacking adequate emergency exits, fire alarms, extinguishers, and compliant building materials.
Provincial investigations revealed that a restaurant previously flagged for safety violations had been converted into part of the mall without proper oversight .
Eyewitnesses and authorities suggested the fire may have started when an air conditioning unit malfunctioned near a perfume shop, igniting flammable materials .
In response, Governor Mohammed al‑Mayyeh declared three days of mourning. He also announced judicial action against the mall’s owner and the restaurant’s proprietor, warning they would face consequences for their negligence .
A preliminary investigative report is expected within 48 hours, and Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al‑Sudani ordered the Interior Minister to oversee the investigation and implement measures to prevent similar tragedies .
The disaster echoes prior incidents across Iraq—most notably the 2021 Nasiriyah hospital fire and the 2023 wedding hall blaze in Nineveh—where poor construction standards and the use of highly flammable materials contributed to high casualty rates
This tragedy underscores ongoing systemic issues around building safety and regulation enforcement in Iraq, prompting national grief and urgent calls for reform.
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