A tragic incident occurred on Wednesday, September 27, in Al-Hamdaniya district, Iraq's Nineveh province, where a devastating fire at a wedding celebration claimed the lives of over 100 people and left 150 others injured. According to information from Nineveh Deputy Governor Hasan al-Allaq, the death toll has reached 113.
Reports from Reuters, citing state media, indicate that the fire engulfed a large events hall in Al-Hamdaniya town shortly after fireworks were ignited during the festivities. Initial findings suggest that the building was constructed using highly flammable materials, which contributed to its rapid collapse. Eyewitnesses reported that the fire broke out around 10:45 pm local time (19:45 GMT) while hundreds of people were present at the venue. Official statements reveal that federal Iraqi authorities and Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region dispatched ambulances and medical teams to the scene.
In a report by AFP, it was noted that the main hospital in Al-Hamdaniya received numerous ambulances with sirens blaring, and a crowd of people gathered in the courtyard to donate blood. Additionally, some individuals were seen near a refrigerated truck containing several black body bags.
Imad Yohana, a survivor of the incident, recounted to Reuters that those present at the scene witnessed the fire rapidly spreading throughout the hall. "Those who managed to escape did so, but unfortunately, some got trapped," Yohana added.
Civil defense authorities reported the presence of prefabricated panels inside the event hall that were both "highly flammable and in violation of safety standards." An official statement highlighted that the fire caused sections of the ceiling to collapse due to the use of cheap, flammable construction materials.