Iraq’s Interior Ministry Confirms 61 Dead in Kut Mall Fire, Vows Full Investigation
In an official statement, the ministry said the fire broke out Wednesday in a newly opened commercial building that housed a hypermarket and a restaurant. The building had been in operation for only seven days before the disaster struck.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Iraq’s Ministry of Interior on Thursday expressed deep sorrow over the tragic fire that engulfed a five-story shopping mall in Kut, the city center of Wasit province, confirming that 61 people lost their lives in the devastating blaze.
In an official statement, the ministry said the fire broke out Wednesday in a newly opened commercial building that housed a hypermarket and a restaurant. The building had been in operation for only seven days before the disaster struck.
“This painful incident claimed the lives of 61 innocent citizens, most of whom died of smoke inhalation inside the bathrooms due to the thick smoke,” the ministry said. It added that among the victims were 14 severely charred bodies that have yet to be identified.
Despite the scale of the tragedy, Civil Defense teams were able to rescue more than 45 people who were trapped inside the building. The ministry praised the firefighters for their “heroic effort and high dedication” in saving lives under extremely dangerous conditions.
Interior Minister Abdul Amir Al-Shammari has ordered the formation of a high-level investigative committee to determine the exact causes of the fire and identify any failures in safety or emergency response. The committee is headed by the minister’s technical advisor and includes the director of forensic evidence and senior investigators and technical experts.
“The Ministry of Interior affirms that it will not tolerate any negligence or failure by any party found responsible, in full commitment to justice and public safety,” the statement read.
The ministry also extended its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and vowed to keep the public informed. “Comprehensive technical investigation results will be announced as soon as they are completed, in full transparency before public opinion,” it added.
The Kut mall fire is among the deadliest civilian incidents in Iraq in recent years and comes amid growing concerns over safety standards in commercial and residential buildings across the country. Many public facilities lack basic fire prevention systems, a consequence of years of conflict, underinvestment, and oversight failures.
