Angry Protesters Demand Governor’s Resignation After Deadly Mall Fire in Kut

By Dler Mohammed

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) — A massive crowd of angry residents took to the streets of Kut, the capital of Iraq’s Wasit province, on Saturday night, demanding the immediate resignation of Governor Mohammed Jamil Al-Mayahi following the devastating fire that killed over 60 people in a newly built shopping mall earlier this week.

Chanting slogans such as “Justice for the martyrs!” and “Governor, resign!”, protesters flooded the city center, blaming local authorities for gross negligence and the lack of basic safety measures in the Hyper Mall, which was open to the public for just seven days before turning into a death trap.

The protest comes in the wake of one of Iraq’s deadliest civilian tragedies in years. According to medical and local officials cited by AFP, the fire erupted late Wednesday on the first floor of the five-story mall and quickly spread, killing at least 61 people — most of whom were trapped in bathrooms and suffocated from heavy smoke. Another 45 individuals were rescued by emergency teams.

Footage from the scene of the fire showed charred walls, collapsed ceilings, and personal belongings scattered across the burned-out floors. Grieving families gathered outside local hospitals, some collapsing in anguish as the remains of loved ones arrived in ambulances. The Ministry of Interior reported that at least 14 of the victims were so severely burned that they remain unidentified.

“This disaster was not an accident — it was preventable,” shouted one protester in Saturday night’s rally. “We’ve lost dozens of innocent lives because there were no fire exits, no alarms, no sprinklers. Who approved this mall? Who will answer for this?”

Governor Al-Mayahi declared three days of mourning after the fire and pledged to hold the mall owner and construction contractor accountable. He said lawsuits would be filed and that an investigation was underway. However, his promises have done little to calm public fury.

“Why should we trust a governor who allowed this mall to open without basic safety precautions?” said Zahraa Mahmoud, a local teacher attending the protest. “He failed to protect us, and now he must go.”

Iraq’s Ministry of Interior has formed a high-level investigative committee, led by the minister’s technical advisor, to determine the cause of the fire and whether there were violations in safety regulations. Preliminary reports suggest that the fire may have started from an exploding air conditioning unit.

Despite the efforts of firefighters, whose “heroic” response was praised by the ministry, the public’s confidence in the authorities has sharply eroded. Iraq has long faced chronic issues related to building safety, corruption, and poor infrastructure — all of which contributed to the growing unrest now on display in Kut.

The tragedy echoes previous disasters in Iraq, such as the 2023 wedding hall fire in Nineveh and the 2021 blaze in Nasiriyah’s COVID-19 hospital ward, both of which highlighted systemic failures in safety enforcement and emergency preparedness.

With emotions running high and pressure mounting, protesters in Kut have vowed to continue demonstrating until Governor Al-Mayahi steps down. As one sign read: “You opened the mall — now bury the victims. We won’t forget.”