Over 60 Dead After Blaze Engulfs Newly Opened Iraqi Mall Following AC Blast

A devastating fire swept through a recently inaugurated shopping center in Iraq, claiming the lives of at least 61 people in what’s being described as one of the country’s deadliest recent disasters. The blaze, believed to have been sparked by an exploding air conditioning unit, erupted late Wednesday inside the Corniche Hypermarket Mall in Kut, just five days after its grand opening.

The fire reportedly broke out on the lower floors of the six-story structure and rapidly consumed the entire building, trapping dozens of shoppers inside. Graphic videos circulating online show the mall engulfed in flames and thick smoke as people appeared to be stranded on the rooftop. Their fate remains uncertain.

Rescue operations lasted well into the early hours of the morning, with ambulances rushing victims to overcrowded hospitals until 4 a.m. Firefighters managed to save over 45 people, according to Iraq’s Interior Ministry, but many others were not so fortunate. Several charred bodies were discovered in bathrooms, where victims had sought refuge but ultimately succumbed to the smoke.

One medical official confirmed the recovery of “many unrecognizable bodies,” including men, women, and children. The remains of 14 victims are yet to be identified.

Distressing images from the aftermath show the entire mall burned down to a shell of twisted metal and scorched concrete. Emergency crews continued searching for missing persons amid the rubble Thursday morning.

Eyewitnesses say the fire was fast and unforgiving. Dr. Nasir al-Quraishi, who lost five family members in the inferno, shared his grief: “We went to the mall for dinner, to escape the power outages at home… but the AC unit on the second floor exploded, and the fire just took over. There was no way out.”

Outside the hospitals, crowds of devastated relatives gathered, many in tears and calling out the names of their loved ones. “Oh my father, oh my heart,” one man sobbed while pounding his chest in sorrow.

The tragedy has prompted Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to order a comprehensive investigation to identify any negligence or code violations that may have contributed to the disaster. Governor Mohammed al-Miyahi declared a three-day mourning period and pledged legal action against both the mall’s owner and its contractor.

“This is a national tragedy that demands serious accountability,” Miyahi said. “It exposes just how urgently safety standards must be re-evaluated across the country.”

Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Iraq’s most influential Shiite cleric, offered condolences to the families of the victims.

This fire joins a troubling list of deadly incidents in Iraq’s recent history, many linked to weak enforcement of safety codes and crumbling infrastructure. The country has faced multiple fires in public spaces over the years — including a wedding hall inferno in 2023 that killed around 100 guests, and a hospital blaze in 2021 that left over 60 COVID-19 patients dead.

As Iraq continues to battle scorching summer temperatures that can soar past 50°C (122°F), the frequency of such disasters is likely to remain high unless substantial reforms are introduced.