At Least 60 Dead in Fire at Shopping Mall in Iraq

At least 60 people have been confirmed dead following a devastating fire that broke out at a shopping mall in Kut, eastern Iraq, according to health authorities and police sources.

The blaze, which engulfed a five-story commercial building overnight, has left at least 11 individuals unaccounted for.

Footage widely shared across social media platforms showed flames rapidly consuming the structure as firefighting teams struggled through the night to bring the inferno under control.

A senior official from the Kut health department told Reuters that authorities had confirmed the identities of 59 victims, with one body so badly charred it could not be identified.

Local municipal official Ali Al-Mayahi also stated that recovery efforts are still underway, as several bodies remain trapped beneath the wreckage.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Iraq’s official news agency (INA) cited the Governor of Wasit Province, Mohammed Jameel Al-Mayahi, who announced that relevant authorities are conducting a full inquiry. Preliminary findings are expected to be released to the public within 48 hours.

Al-Mayahi also confirmed that legal proceedings have commenced against the building and mall owner in connection with the incident.