Fire at Iraqi Wedding Party Leaves Hundreds Dead or Injured
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A tragic fire at a wedding party in Iraq's Nineveh province's Hamdaniya district has resulted in the deaths and injuries of hundreds of people.
The initial reports indicated that over 100 people have been killed and 150 others were injures. The civil defense teams have been searching the charred remains of the building for survivors through the early hours of Wednesday.
Nineveh Deputy Governor Hassan al-Allaq confirmed to Reuters that 113 people were dead, while state media reported a death toll of at least 150 people injured.
The fire engulfed a large events hall in the northeastern region after fireworks were ignited during the celebration, as reported by local civil defense and state media.
Eyewitness Imad Yohana, who managed to escape the inferno, described the horrifying scene, stating, "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."
Preliminary information indicates that the building was constructed with highly flammable materials, contributing to its swift collapse, according to state media.
Official statements confirm that ambulances and medical teams were dispatched to the site by federal Iraqi authorities and Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.
Eyewitnesses reported that the fire broke out at approximately 10:45 p.m. local time (1945 GMT), with hundreds of people in attendance at the time of the incident.
The Iraqi Red Crescent on Wednesday provided an update on the devastating fire at a wedding hall in Al-Hamdaniya, Ninawa province, east of Mosul. The organization has reported that the number of victims and injured individuals has risen to over 450 people.
Ninawa Governor Najm Al-Jubouri has confirmed that a final casualty count has not yet been determined. In response, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has directed the Ministers of Interior and Health to mobilize all available resources to aid and assist the injured, according to the Iraqi News Agency.
Preliminary information from the Iraqi Civil Defense indicates that the fire was ignited by fireworks used during the wedding ceremony. The flames rapidly spread, exacerbated by the highly flammable EcoBond panels enclosing the hall, in violation of safety regulations outlined by civil defense laws. These panels lacked essential safety features, including alarm systems and sprinklers.
