BAGHDAD: At least 100 people were killed and 150 were injured in a fire at a wedding party in the northern Nineveh province of Iraq, local media reported on Tuesday.
According to sources the death toll was expected to rise. The fire engulfed a large event hall in Al-Hamdaniyah in the north-eastern Iraqi region after fireworks were lit during the celebration.
Health authorities in Nineveh province have confirmed the toll, saying that 100 individuals have lost their lives, with over 150 sustained injuries in the tragic incident.
Iraq PM orders immediate relief operation
The Prime Minister of Iraq has issued directives, asking officials to use all possible resources and efforts to provide immediate relief and support to the victims. The order was conveyed through a post on the social media platform X.
رئيس مجلس الوزراء @mohamedshia يوجه وزيري الداخلية والصحة باستنفار كل الجهود لإغاثة المتضررين جراء حادث الحريق بقضاء الحمدانية في سهل نينوى. pic.twitter.com/YMTCMSdC10
— Government of Iraq – الحكومة العراقية (@IraqiGovt) September 26, 2023
Preliminary information says that the building was made of highly flammable materials, contributing to its quick collapse, state media said.
Ambulances and medical crews were immediately dispatched to the site by federal Iraqi authorities and authorities in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.
A photograph shared by the Iraqi news agency Nina showed firefighters battling the ferocious blaze at the wedding hall.
