Current:Home > ScamsIraq wedding hall fire leaves almost 100 dead and dozens injured in Nineveh province-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Iraq wedding hall fire leaves almost 100 dead and dozens injured in Nineveh province
View Date:2024-12-23 21:49:12
A fire tore through a wedding venue in northern Iraq on Wednesday, killing at least 93 people and leaving 100 more injured, according to Interior Ministry spokesman Saad Maan.
The fire struck a wedding venue in the predominantly Christian town of Hamdaniya, just outside the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, about 205 miles northwest of the capital, Baghdad.
According to emergency services and witnesses at the scene, fireworks inside the venue sparked the deadly blaze.
"The speed of the fire, due to highly flammable building materials and highly flammable decorations and curtains covering the ceiling and the walls, took everyone by surprise," the emergency rescue service in Nineveh province told reporters.
Video livestreamed on social media showed how suddenly the fire spread panic among the dancing guests in the ballroom, sending people running for safety, including the bride and groom.
The roughly 700 people who were inside the building found themselves trapped as the flames had erupted near the primary entrance.
"Soon after the fire started, it was a blackout, and smoke and screaming caused chaos. People were suffocating, falling and stampeding over each other," one witness told reporters. "Soon after that, part of the ceiling collapsed, causing more deaths and injuries."
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered an investigation into the blaze and asked the country's interior and health ministries to provide assistance, his office said in a statement posted online.
A source with the provincial government in Nineveh told CBS News an investigation would be carried out to determine not only how the fire started, but also "how and whether this venue had a license, considering the poor safety conditions."
The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as they did not have permission to speak to media about the incident, said the owner of the venue had gone into "hiding," and the hope was that the individual would be found to face an "investigation into the legality of operating such an unsafe venue."
Iraq has faced similar tragedies in the recent past, blamed on poor building materials and insufficient safety standards, including two major fires in hospital wards for COVID-19 patients in Baghdad and Nasiriyah that killed dozens of people.
- In:
- baghdad
- Iraq
- Fire
- Wedding
veryGood! (59)
Related
- NBA players express concern for ex-player Kyle Singler after social media post
- Israeli military veteran tapped as GOP candidate in special election to replace George Santos
- Who is Easton Stick? What to know about the Chargers QB replacing injured Justin Herbert
- Fentanyl-tainted gummy bears sicken 5 kids at Virginia school; couple charged in case.
- Kentucky gets early signature win at Champions Classic against Duke | Opinion
- Does driving or grocery shopping make you anxious? Your eyes may be the problem.
- California regulators vote to extend Diablo Canyon nuclear plant operations through 2030
- King Charles pays light-hearted tribute to comedian Barry Humphries at Sydney memorial service
- Judge sets date for 9/11 defendants to enter pleas, deepening battle over court’s independence
- Oregon’s top court hears arguments in suit filed by GOP senators seeking reelection after boycott
Ranking
- Barbora Krejcikova calls out 'unprofessional' remarks about her appearance
- 2-year-old Virginia girl dies after accidentally shooting herself at Hampton home: Police
- Youngkin pledges to seek mental health legislation in honor of Irvo Otieno
- Militants attack police office and army post in northwest Pakistan. 2 policemen, 3 attackers killed
- Minnesota county to pay $3.4M to end lawsuit over detainee’s death
- Central Indiana man gets 16 years for trying to provide guns to Islamic State group
- Stock market today: Asian markets churn upward after the Dow ticks to another record high
- Olivia Rodrigo and Actor Louis Partridge Confirm Romance With PDA Outing in NYC
Recommendation
-
Catholic bishops urged to boldly share church teachings — even unpopular ones
-
How to watch 'Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God,' the docuseries everyone is talking about
-
How Shohei Ohtani's contract compares to other unusual clauses in sports contracts
-
Coca-Cola recalled 2,000 Diet Coke, Sprite, Fanta cases due to possible contamination
-
Deebo Samuel explains 'out of character' sideline altercation with 49ers long snapper, kicker
-
Israel's war with Hamas rages as Biden warns Netanyahu over indiscriminate bombing in Gaza
-
The Vatican’s ‘trial of the century,’ a Pandora’s box of unintended revelations, explained
-
Officer shoots, kills 2 dogs attacking man at Ohio golf course, man also shot: Police