“We couldn’t escape”: Survivors recount horror of Iraq mall fire

At least 61 people have died following a devastating fire that engulfed a newly opened shopping complex in the eastern Iraqi city of Kut, authorities confirmed on Thursday.

The inferno, which broke out late Wednesday at the five-storey Corniche Hypermarket Mall, turned what was meant to be a festive outing into a nightmare, as families who had come to dine and shop were trapped inside.

Officials reported that many victims suffocated in the bathrooms, while others died in elevators.

Witnesses described scenes of horror, with some people, including children, seen pleading for help from the rooftop.

Ali Kadhim, 51, who was searching for his missing cousin, his cousin’s wife, and their three children, stood helplessly outside the debris-laden building, as emergency workers continued to comb through the remains. “We don’t know what happened to them,” he said.

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Although the blaze has been contained, the extent of the damage is catastrophic, with the front of the mall visibly charred. The Iraqi interior ministry stated that 61 people had died, 14 of whom remain unidentifiable.

Medical sources later told local media the death toll had risen to 63, with over 40 others injured.

Civil defence forces managed to rescue at least 45 people trapped inside, but the scale of the incident has overwhelmed local hospitals. Grieving relatives gathered outside the al-Zahraa Hospital’s forensic department, many overcome with emotion, collapsing in sorrow.

Nasir al-Quraishi, a local doctor who lost five members of his family, said they had visited the mall to escape the city’s persistent power cuts.

“An air conditioner exploded on the second floor, and then the fire erupted, and we couldn’t escape,” he lamented.

Many survivors and relatives have raised concerns about poor safety standards at the mall. Moataz Karim, who lost two family members, accused the building’s management of negligence, stating there were no fire extinguishing systems installed.

One of the victims had only started working at the mall three days prior.

Iraq has faced repeated tragedies due to lax enforcement of safety regulations. In September 2023, a fire at a wedding hall killed over 100 people, while a 2021 blaze in a COVID-19 hospital unit claimed more than 60 lives.

Wasit province governor, Mohammed al-Miyahi, has vowed legal action against the mall owner and contractors.

“The tragedy is a major shock… and requires a serious review of all safety measures,” he said, as the government declared three days of national mourning.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has also called for a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the fire and urged authorities to address institutional lapses that continue to endanger lives.

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Condolences have poured in from countries including Egypt, Iran, France, and the United States, as Iraq mourns yet another devastating loss.

AFP.