Baghdad, Iraq: A devastating fire erupted during a wedding celebration in northern Iraq, resulting in the loss of at least 100 lives and leaving 150 individuals injured, as reported by the Iraqi state news agency INA.
The tragic incident unfolded in the Hamdaniya district of the northeast Nineveh governorate, ignited by candles and flammable materials utilized during the festivities, according to local authorities and CNN.
Nineveh governor Najm Al-Jubouri stated that the wounded have been transported to hospitals in Nineveh and the Kurdistan region.
Al-Jubouri remarked, “The final tally of casualties and injuries is yet to be confirmed,” as reported by INA via CNN.
Videos captured at the scene depicted thick smoke billowing from the Al Haytham Wedding Hall, while crowds and ambulances gathered outside the venue.
A wedding guest conveyed that the bride and groom, although safe, were 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,” said the guest to the private Iraqi channel Alawla TV, as reported by CNN.
The wedding hall was reportedly adorned with highly flammable Ecobond panels that did not comply with safety regulations. These panels, composed of low-cost building materials, quickly collapsed when exposed to fire, as indicated by the Iraqi Civil Defense.
Following the incident, Iraq’s Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, instructed his cabinet to provide assistance to the affected individuals, according to a statement from his office.
