Devastating fire at Iraq wedding kills 100, leaves more than 150 injured
Flammable materials within the venue may have accelerated the fire, causing parts of the ceiling to collapse. (Photo Credits: Reuters)
A joyous celebration turned into a horrific tragedy in Iraq when a devastating fire broke out at a wedding party in the Hamdaniya district of Nineveh province on Tuesday (September 26) night. The incident resulted in the loss of over 100 lives and left approximately 150 people injured.
According to Nineveh Deputy Governor Hassan al-Allaq, 113 people were confirmed dead, while state media reported at least 100 dead and 150 injured, as per Reuters.
Today, a devastating fire erupted during a wedding party in Nineveh Province's Alhamdabya district in Iraq, resulting in over 150 deaths and hundreds of injuries. This heartbreaking incident sheds light on Iraq's alarming lack of safety measures. Notably, there are no fire… pic.twitter.com/pkqyZICHd7
— Saad Murad (@saad_baber) September 27, 2023
What happened
- Over 100 people lost their lives, and 150 sustained injuries at a wedding in northern Iraq.
- The incident occurred during a celebration in Al-Hamdaniya, Nineveh province, on Tuesday night.
- The exact cause of the fire is unknown, but initial reports suggest it may have started after fireworks were ignited.
- Flammable panels in the venue could have contributed to the fire, causing parts of the ceiling to burn and collapse.
- Civil defense teams worked tirelessly to search for survivors in the burned building into the early hours of Wednesday.
🚨 #BREAKING: Heartbreaking scenes emerge from the wedding hall fire in Mosul, Iraq. Sources now report a tragic increase in the death toll, with 150 lives lost. 💔🙏 #Mosul #Iraq #BreakingNews #iraqi pic.twitter.com/1ogBfzal1w
— Bablyon Bulletin (@BabylonBulletin) September 26, 2023
The fire engulfed a large events hall in the northeastern region, with fireworks believed to be the initial trigger, as reported by local civil defense via state media.
Imad Yohana, a 34-year-old who managed to escape the inferno, shared his harrowing experience, saying, "We saw the fire pulsating, coming out of the hall. Those who managed to get out and those who didn't got stuck. Even those who made their way out were broken."
Federal Iraqi authorities and the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region promptly dispatched ambulances and medical teams to the scene, according to official statements.
Eyewitnesses present at the time of the incident stated that the fire began around 10:45 p.m. local time, with hundreds of people in attendance.
Injured individuals have been transported to hospitals across the Nineveh region, as confirmed by the region's governor to INA.
However, he also cautioned that the number of casualties is not final and may increase.
At the primary hospital in Hamdaniya, situated east of the region's capital Mosul, numerous individuals arrived to donate blood to assist the injured.