Overview

• The fire broke out late on July 16 on the first floor of the five-story Hypermarket Mall in Kut and engulfed the building within hours.
• Rescue teams have recovered 61 bodies, including children, and evacuated 45 survivors, with 14 charred remains still awaiting identification.
• Governor Mohammed al-Mijahi declared three days of mourning and initiated legal action against the mall’s owner and its contractor for alleged safety breaches.
• Authorities have yet to determine the blaze’s cause, though a survivor reported that an air-conditioning unit explosion may have triggered the fire.
• The tragedy renews concerns over recurring deadly fires in Iraq attributed to weak enforcement of building safety standards.