Tragic Blaze Claims Over 100 Lives at Iraq Wedding Celebration

“A Wedding Fire Tragedy in Northern Iraq Claims Over 100 Lives and Injures 150”

A devastating fire broke out at a wedding celebration in northern Iraq, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 100 lives and leaving 150 individuals injured, as reported by the Iraqi state news agency INA, citing local authorities.

The incident occurred in the Hamdaniya district of northeast Nineveh governorate and was ignited by fireworks, candles, and other combustible materials used during the wedding festivities, as disclosed by the Iraqi Civil Defense.

Najm Al-Jubouri, the governor of Nineveh, informed INA that the injured were promptly transported to hospitals in both Nineveh and the Kurdistan region. He also emphasized that a final count of casualties and injuries has yet to be determined.

Videos captured at the scene depict thick plumes of smoke emanating from the Al Haytham Wedding Hall, while crowds and ambulances converged outside.

People gather outside a hospital, where survivors are being treated.

Locals can be seen walking through the debris of the wedding hall.

A wedding guest interviewed by local media reassured that the bride and groom were unharmed but deeply affected by the tragedy. “The bride and groom are fine. I was just with them now, but their condition is devastating due to what happened to people here,” the guest conveyed to the private Iraqi channel Alawla TV.

The wedding hall where the fire originated was reportedly adorned with highly flammable Ecobond panels, a material that violated safety regulations, as highlighted by the Iraqi Civil Defense, according to ANI.

“The fire led to the collapse of parts of the hall as a result of the use of highly flammable, low-cost building materials that collapse within minutes when fire breaks out,” stated the Civil Defense.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa Al-Sudani swiftly instructed his cabinet to provide assistance to those affected by the tragic incident, according to a statement issued by his office. Al-Sudani personally reached out to the Nineveh governor by phone, ordering a comprehensive response to aid the victims, as confirmed by his office and INA.

Iraqi officials walk at the site of a fire that tore through a wedding celebration.

The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq expressed its condolences to the families of the deceased and injured, characterizing the incident as “an immense tragedy.” In a statement posted on social media, the mission expressed shock and sorrow over the significant loss of life and injuries.

In response to the disaster, the Iraqi government declared a three-day national mourning period following the devastating blaze.