At least 61 people are confirmed dead and 45 have been rescued following a catastrophic fire that engulfed a hypermarket in the eastern Iraqi city of Al Kut late Wednesday night. The inferno erupted in a five-story shopping center, trapping many inside as flames tore through the structure, leaving families anxiously waiting outside hospitals for news of their loved ones. Tragically, several individuals remain unaccounted for.

Witnesses reported harrowing scenes of people stranded on the rooftop, desperately hoping for a lifeline as firefighters battled the blaze. Authorities have recovered multiple bodies from the wreckage, and the grim toll is expected to rise as search and rescue operations continue. Local residents and officials have expressed their outrage over the lack of safety measures, questioning how the recently renovated mall was allowed to reopen without adequate precautions.

Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Soudani has dispatched the interior minister to the disaster site, emphasizing the urgent need for accountability and improvements in construction safety standards to prevent further tragedies. The regional governor has initiated an investigation into the cause of the fire, promising answers within 48 hours. This incident follows a series of deadly fires in Iraq, including a wedding hall blaze that claimed 100 lives in 2023 and a hospital fire that killed 60 in 2021.

In response to the tragedy, authorities have declared three days of mourning in Al Kut, but the grief for those who have lost loved ones will extend far beyond this period. As the community grapples with this devastating loss, the call for justice and reform in safety regulations grows louder. This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for change in Iraq’s safety standards to protect its citizens from future calamities.