A devastating fire at a five-storey hypermarket in the eastern Iraqi city of Kut has left at least 60 people dead and several others missing, according to health officials and police sources.
City health authorities confirmed that 59 victims have been identified, while one body remains unidentifiable due to severe burns. City official Ali al-Mayahi noted that more bodies may still be trapped under the debris.
The fire, which broke out overnight, also engulfed an adjoining restaurant. At the time of the incident, families were dining and shopping inside the building, said Wasit Province Governor Mohammed al-Mayahi.
Videos circulating on social media captured scenes of the structure ablaze as firefighters battled the flames.
Emergency services managed to rescue several individuals, and the fire has since been extinguished. In response to the tragedy, the local government has declared three days of mourning.
Authorities have initiated an investigation into the cause of the fire, with findings expected within 48 hours.
Legal proceedings have also been launched against the owner of the building and the mall, according to Iraq`s state news agency INA.
"A tragedy and a calamity have befallen us," Governor al-Mayahi stated, expressing grief over the loss of life.
