BY CS STONE | STONE NEWS NETWORK ||| IRAQ
Tragedy struck as a fire broke out through a 5-story shopping center in the Iraq city of Kut, killing at least 60 people.
Per the bbc:
A fire that tore through a five-storey shopping centre in the Iraqi city of Kut has left at least 60 dead, officials said.
The blaze at the mall, which opened seven days ago, broke out on Wednesday night and has since been brought under control.
Social media videos showed firefighters rescuing people from the mall's roof, but state media reported that many are still missing.
"A tragedy and a calamity has befallen us," regional governor Mohammed al-Miyahi said, adding that legal action would be brought against the shopping centre's owner.
The governor has also declared three days of mourning.
Videos on INA's news channel show flames ripping through several floors of the Corniche Hypermarket in the city's centre, as firefighters try to douse them.
Other clips circulating on social media appear to show a small number of people on the roof during the fire, as well as the burned out insides of the centre.
A number of people were rescued from the building by firefighters, al-Miyahi told local media.
Ambulances were still taking casualties to hospitals in the city, which is about 160 km (100 miles) southeast of Baghdad, at 04:00 local time.
"The tragic fire claimed the lives of 61 innocent citizens, most of whom suffocated in bathrooms, and among them 14 charred bodies yet to be identified," the interior ministry said in a statement.
It added that 45 people were rescued from inside the building.
Apparently there was no fire-extinguishing systems in the building. More here.
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