50 Killed As Massive Fire Breaks Out At Eastern Iraq’s Shopping Mall, Several Injured

17th July 2025 at 12:49 PM

1 minute read

A massive fire at a hypermarket in eastern Iraq's al-Kut city claimed the lives of at least 50 people, including children, according to the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA).

Al-Kut : A massive fire at a hypermarket in eastern Iraq’s al-Kut city claimed the lives of at least 50 people, including children, according to the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA). Videos shared on social media showed flames in a five-storey building overnight as firefighters were trying to control the blaze.

بالفيديو | واسط : هذا ما تبقى من "هايبر ماركت الكوت" الذي أتت عليه النيران بالكامل ، بعد أيام قليلة من افتتاحه#قناة_الغدير_الخبر_في_لحظات pic.twitter.com/QqOQ1OVCSY
— قناة الغدير (@alghadeer_tv) July 16, 2025

The governor stated that preliminary findings from the investigation will be released within 48 hours, as per Reuters. We have filed lawsuits against the owner of the building and the mall, INA quoted the governor as saying. Families were dining and shopping when the fire erupted, the governor said, and added, A tragedy and a calamity have befallen us. The governor also said that ambulances continued to bring in casualties until 4:00 am, filling hospital beds in Kut, a city located around 160 kilometres southeast of Baghdad.

Firefighters managed to rescue several people and eventually extinguished the blaze, he added. Wasit province Governor, Mohammed al-Miyahir said, The number of victims has reached about 50 people, martyrs and injured, in the tragic fire at a major shopping centre. The fire at the newly opened mall started late on Wednesday, July 16. Authorities are investigating the cause behind the incident.