A fire at a wedding hall in northern Iraq has killed more than 100 people and injured 150

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A devastating fire, presumably ignited by fireworks during a Christian wedding celebration, engulfed a banquet hall in the Hamdaniya region of Iraq’s Nineveh province, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 100 lives and leaving 150 others injured. As of Wednesday, authorities have indicated that the death count could increase further. The location of the catastrophe, situated approximately 335 kilometers northwest of Baghdad, is predominantly Christian and adjacent to the city of Mosul.

While no formal announcement has been made regarding the cause of the inferno, footage aired by Kurdish news channel Rudaw showed fireworks launching from the venue’s floor, setting a chandelier ablaze. The aftermath of the fire left the hall in ruins, filled only with burnt metal and rubble, illuminated solely by the lights from television cameras and the cell phones of onlookers.

Security personnel were on the scene in the Hamdaniya district, Nineveh province, Iraq, on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, as survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals. Patients arrived with bandages and were administered oxygen, while additional oxygen supplies were being organized. Among those injured were children, and ambulances continued to ferry the wounded for hours following the blaze.

Various local television networks displayed footage that seemingly captured the bride and groom on the dance floor as the fire commenced. Their condition remains unknown. Eyewitness accounts suggest that the fire broke out as fireworks were lit in preparation for a dance performance by the couple.

Health authorities in Nineveh province revised the death toll to 114, although federal sources had yet to update their earlier figure of at least 100 fatalities. Saif al-Badr, Health Ministry spokesperson, confirmed 150 injuries in a statement published by the state-run Iraqi News Agency. Ahmed Dubardani, a provincial health official, reported that a significant number of the injured suffered severe burns, stating that many were in critical condition.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has initiated an official inquiry into the incident and directed both the Interior and Health departments to extend necessary aid. Najim al-Jubouri, the provincial governor of Nineveh, noted that some injured individuals had been transferred to regional healthcare facilities and warned that the final casualty figures had yet to be ascertained.

This tragedy occurs against a backdrop of challenges faced by Iraq’s Christian minority, who have been targeted by extremist groups over the past two decades. Current estimates suggest that only 150,000 Christians remain in Iraq, a significant decrease from 1.5 million in 2003, out of a total population exceeding 40 million.

The event hall’s exterior, according to civil defense officials, was covered with highly flammable cladding, the use of which is illegal in Iraq. This raises questions about the enforcement of building codes, particularly given Iraq’s history of corruption and administrative mismanagement since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

The use of such hazardous building materials has been a point of concern in other incidents, including the 2017 Grenfell Fire in London that led to 72 fatalities, as well as several high-rise fires in the United Arab Emirates. The situation highlights the urgent need for stricter safety regulations for construction materials and building practices.

Father Rudi Saffar Khoury, a priest present at the wedding, expressed uncertainty over who should be held accountable for the disaster. It remains to be seen whether the catastrophe was the result of an error on the part of event organizers, the venue, or if it was a technical malfunction. Investigations are ongoing.

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More about Iraq wedding hall fire

• BBC News: Iraq wedding hall fire kills over 100
• AP News: Deadly Fire Hits Wedding Hall in Iraq
• Al Jazeera: Deadly fire breaks out at wedding hall in Iraq
• The New York Times: Fire at Wedding Hall in Iraq Kills More Than 100