A devastating fire that tore through a five-storey shopping centre in the Iraqi city of Kut has killed at least 61 people, including women and children, officials say.
The blaze broke out late Wednesday at the Corniche Hypermarket, just a week after its opening. Most victims reportedly died from suffocation, and some bodies remain unidentified.
Firefighters rescued more than 45 people, some from the mall’s roof, as flames tore through the building, which housed a supermarket and restaurant.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, and legal cases have been filed against the mall and building owners.
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani has ordered an inquiry, while the provincial governor has declared three days of mourning.
