Over 60 killed in huge fire at hypermarket in Iraq
What's the story
A huge fire at the Hyper Mall in Al-Kut, Iraq, has claimed the lives of over 60 people and injured dozens. The mall, which also contained a restaurant and supermarket, had only opened five days prior to the tragedy. Mohammed al-Mayahi, the governor of Wasit province, stated that the fire broke out in both the hypermarket and the restaurant when families were dining and shopping.
Incident details
Fire broke out on 1st floor
Videos on social media showed flames engulfing the five-story building as firefighters tried to contain the fire. Hospitals in Kut, located about 160km southeast of Baghdad, are now filled with casualties from this tragic incident, per AFP. "We have compiled a list of 59 victims whose identities have been confirmed, but one body was so badly burned that it has been extremely difficult to identify," a city health official told Reuters.
Twitter Post
Visuals of the mall
#BREAKING Fifty people were killed in a massive fire in a hypermarket in al-Kut city in eastern Iraq
— Guy Elster גיא אלסטר (@guyelster) July 17, 2025
pic.twitter.com/3r2d3Gx9Cv
Legal proceedings
Legal action has been taken against the owner
Wasit province governor al-Miyahi has said that legal action has been taken against the owner of both the building and the mall. He said, "We have filed lawsuits against the owner of the building and the mall." The governor also promised that initial probe results into this tragic incident would be released within two days. He has declared three days of mourning for the victims, according to local media.