A devastating fire at a busy hypermarket in Kut, eastern Iraq, has claimed 61 lives, authorities confirmed Thursday. The blaze erupted overnight, trapping shoppers and staff in what officials called a "heartbreaking tragedy."
💔 Key details: – Most victims suffocated while sheltering in bathrooms – 14 bodies remain unidentified due to severe burns – Death toll revised up from initial 50 after rescue teams combed rubble
🇮🇶 Iraq's Interior Ministry vowed a full investigation into safety standards at the commercial complex. Local residents described chaotic scenes as flames engulfed the building, with some leaping from windows to escape.
🌍 This marks one of Iraq's deadliest fires in recent years, raising urgent questions about public safety infrastructure. Our thoughts are with affected families. 💐
