At least 60 people have been confirmed dead and 11 others are missing following a massive blaze that tore through the Corniche Hypermarket Mall in the Iraqi city of al-Kut on Wednesday.
Videos shared widely on social media showed flames engulfing the multi-storey shopping centre as firefighters struggled overnight to bring the fire under control.
The five-storey building, located in the heart of al-Kut — approximately 160 kilometres southeast of Baghdad — had opened just five days prior, according to local reports.
City health authorities, alongside two police sources, confirmed the death toll to Reuters on Thursday. "We have compiled a list of 59 victims whose identities have been confirmed, but one body was so badly burned that it has been extremely difficult to identify," a health official told the agency.
City official Ali al-Mayahi said that more bodies remained trapped under debris and that search and rescue operations were ongoing.
Ambulances were seen rushing casualties to hospitals as late as 4am local time, while firefighters continued to comb through the smouldering wreckage in search of survivors and bodies.
Medical sources quoted by AFP placed the death toll at 55 earlier in the day, noting that many bodies had yet to be identified due to severe burns.
"A tragedy and a calamity has befallen us," said provincial governor Mohammed al-Miyahi, who confirmed that lawsuits had been filed against both the owner of the building and the mall operator. He said that preliminary findings from an official probe would be released within 48 hours.
"The tragedy is a major shock," the governor added, noting that a "serious review of all safety measures" in commercial buildings would be undertaken.
Footage aired by state media outlet INA showed intense flames and thick smoke pouring out of the building, with firefighters working under perilous conditions to rescue those trapped. Other videos circulating online showed people stranded on the roof, awaiting help, while others captured the aftermath — a charred and gutted interior.
Nasir al-Quraishi, a doctor in his 50s, recounted the horror, telling AFP he had lost five family members in the inferno. “A disaster has befallen us,” he said. “We went to the mall to have some food, eat dinner, and escape power cuts at home. An air conditioner exploded on the second floor and then the fire erupted. We couldn’t escape it.”
While the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, initial reports suggest an electrical fault may have triggered the disaster. Local officials have not ruled out negligence in enforcing building codes and fire safety regulations.
The Corniche Hypermarket Mall, one of the city’s newest commercial centres, was reportedly crowded at the time of the incident, with many families seeking relief from the summer heat and widespread power outages.
Rescue efforts are ongoing as authorities continue to search the remains of the building. Medical teams are working to identify the deceased and treat those injured, while the city mourns one of the deadliest fire incidents in recent years.
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