From the Liveblog of
Thursday, July 17, 2025
50 killed, injured in Iraq mall blaze
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleFifty people were killed or injured in a massive mall fire in the eastern Iraqi city of Kut, state news agency INA reports, citing the province’s governor.
“The number of victims has reached about 50 people, martyrs and injured, in the tragic fire at a major shopping center,” Wasit province governor Mohammed al-Miyahi tells INA.
Unverified videos circulating on social media show flames engulfing a five-story building in Kut overnight, while firefighters try to contain the fire.
VİDEO – Irak'ın Kut kentinde bir alışveriş merkezinde çıkan yangında onlarca kişi yaşamını yitirdihttps://t.co/WgYcfDyPvu pic.twitter.com/R38bOWPkpq
— Rudaw Türkçe (@RudawTurkce) July 17, 2025
An AFP correspondent says the Hypermarket Mall had opened just five days ago.
The correspondent reported seeing charred bodies in a hospital.
Initial reports suggest the fire started on the first floor.
The first moments of the fire at the hypermarket mall in Kut#Iraq_News #Kut #fireaccident pic.twitter.com/BdYOixMgvM
— Alahad TV-EN (@ahad_en) July 17, 2025
The cause of the fire is not immediately known, but the governor says initial results from an investigation will be announced within 48 hours, INA reports.
“We have filed lawsuits against the owner of the building and the mall,” INA quoted the governor as saying.
The Times of Israel Community.