A devastating fire at the newly opened Corniche Hypermarket Mall in Kut, eastern Iraq, has claimed at least 61 lives, with 11 people still missing. The five-story building, which included a supermarket and restaurant, had only opened five days earlier.

According to Iraq’s interior ministry, most victims died of suffocation, many trapped in bathrooms, with 14 bodies burned beyond recognition. One witness shared that five of his relatives died inside an elevator.

The fire reportedly began on the first floor and spread rapidly throughout the building. Though the exact cause remains under investigation, early accounts suggest an air conditioner explosion may have triggered the blaze.

Civil defense teams managed to rescue over 45 people from the burning structure. The tragedy is considered one of the deadliest in Iraq in recent years.

Dr. Nasir al-Quraishi, who lost five family members, recounted that they had visited the mall to escape power cuts. “An air conditioner exploded on the second floor and then the fire erupted — and we couldn’t escape,” he said.

Governor Miyahi declared three days of mourning and announced legal action against the mall’s contractor and owner. He emphasized the need to reassess safety standards across the country.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered a thorough investigation to identify failures and prevent future tragedies.

Fires caused by poor safety standards are not uncommon in Iraq. In 2023, over 100 people died in a wedding hall fire, and in 2021, a hospital COVID-19 unit blaze killed more than 60, fueling public outrage.