Explosion kills three in Kirkuk
The official reiterated the explosion was not a “terrorist act”.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – At least three members of a family have been killed by a gas explosion caused by a leak in Kirkuk, a police source told Kurdistan24.
The powerful explosion also destroyed the house's ceiling, under which a mother and her two children were staying, an official from Kirkuk Police told Kurdistan24 on the condition of anonymity.
Fire erupted following the explosion on Friday night at Halwat village in Kirkuk’s Zab sub-district, the police said, denying the incident was a "terrorist act".
Iraq and the Kurdistan Region have in recent years witnessed multiple incidents of deadly explosions caused by gas leakage at both households as well as commercial places.
In 2022, at least 14 people were killed by a gas leak explosion in Sulaimani province, triggering a national mourning period for the loss.
Calls for strengthening safety standards have been accompanying the messages of condolences from the public.
According to the Kurdistan Region's firefighting officials, lack of adherence to safety measures is the leading cause behind accidental fires in the region.
Additional reporting conducted by the Kurdistan24 Kirkuk reporter Hemin Dalo
