50 People Killed, Injured As Massive Fire Breaks Out At Shopping Mall In Iraq
Around 50 people were killed and injured in a massive fire that broke out at a shopping mall in Iraq’s eastern city Kut, local media reported on Thursday.
“The number of victims has reached about 50 people, martyrs and injured, in the tragic fire at a major shopping centre” that broke out late Wednesday, Wasit province governor, Mohammed al-Miyahi told the news agency.
The cause of the fire at the Hyper Mall has not yet been identified, Miyahi said.
Ambulances were still moving the casualties from the spot, filling beds of a hospital in the city, which is 160 kilometres southeast of Baghdad.
The mall had opened just five days ago. Early probe suggests that the blaze started on the first floor or the building.
Charred bodies were being transported to the hospital.
The governor declared three days of mourning in the province and said that the authorities would file a case against the building and the owner of the mall.
