Kut, Iraq – July 16, 2025 – A massive fire has torn through a five-story shopping mall in the southeastern Iraqi city of Kut, claiming the lives of at least 60 people and injuring dozens more in what is being described as one of the deadliest civilian disasters in recent years.
The blaze engulfed the Corniche Mall on Wednesday evening, barely a week after the mall’s grand opening. According to Iraq’s Ministry of Interior, 14 of the deceased remain unidentified due to severe burns, while many of the victims were reportedly trapped inside restrooms as they tried to escape the fast-spreading flames.
“This is a tragedy and a disaster. There will be legal consequences for any negligence. We cannot allow such facilities to operate without meeting safety standards,” said regional governor Mohammed al-Miyahi, placing blame on possible regulatory failures.
Dramatic footage shared on social media shows the upper floors of the mall ablaze, with panicked citizens attempting to flee to the rooftop, while firefighters desperately battled the flames and worked to rescue those trapped inside.
Authorities confirmed that 45 people were rescued, while emergency teams continue transporting the injured to hospitals. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown, but a full investigation has been launched.
In response to the disaster, local authorities have declared three days of official mourning, as families mourn their loved ones and the nation grapples with the scale of the loss.
