BAGHDAD, Oct 1 (Portal) – A fire that broke out in a crowded wedding hall in a northern Iraqi city, killing more than 100 people, was blamed on “gross negligence” and a lack of safety measures, the findings of a government investigation into the disaster said .
The results of the investigation, announced by Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari at a press conference on Sunday, said that the owner of the hall and three other employees allowed 900 people to enter the venue, even though it was designed for a maximum of 400 people.
“The fire was accidental and unintentional and occurred due to gross negligence,” the investigation said.
“The use of flammable decoration contributed to the fire spreading quickly and turning the hall into a fireball,” Shammari said.
[1/2]Volunteers search for the remains of missing bodies after a deadly fire at a wedding celebration in Hamdaniya district of Nineveh province, Iraq, September 28, 2023. Portal/Ahmed Saad LICENSES
The fire trapped people in the wedding hall and rescue teams struggled to reach them because there were few and small exit doors, Shammari said.
At least 150 people were injured in the fire in the Christian town of Hamdaniya – also known as Qaraqosh.
The interior minister put the death toll at 107 and said the inquiry panel had suggested that the government provide financial support to the families of the dead and injured.
The investigation also made recommendations to take legal action against local officials.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani visited victims of the fire at two local hospitals on Thursday and vowed to hold those responsible accountable.
Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed. Editing by Jane Merriman
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