Over 100 people have tragically lost their lives, and more than 150 have sustained injuries in a devastating fire that engulfed a wedding celebration in Iraq's Nineveh province, according to local authorities and emergency services. The Deputy Governor of Nineveh, Hassan al-Allaq, confirmed that the death toll currently stands at 113. The fire began at around 10:45 PM local time on Tuesday night.

Najim al-Jubouri, the provincial governor, cautioned that there is still no final count of casualties, indicating that the death toll may rise further. 

Preliminary reports from Iraq's civil defense suggest that fireworks used during the wedding celebration may have ignited the fire. Fireworks are a common feature of Iraqi weddings, and it was reported that approximately 1,000 people were in attendance when the blaze erupted.

The construction materials used in the event hall are suspected to have exacerbated the fire due to their flammable nature. The building lacked proper safety measures, including emergency exits. The presence of highly flammable prefabricated panels in the hall was also noted by civil defense authorities, which did not conform to safety standards and contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.

The video of the aftermath can be seen below, or click here to watch it on x.com:

Emergency response efforts were mobilized, with ambulances and medical teams dispatched by federal Iraqi authorities and those in the Kurdish region. Iraq's Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, has ordered an investigation into the incident and directed the Interior and Health officials to provide relief.

Source: Al Jazeera