BAGHDAD, Oct 1 (Reuters) – A fire that devastated a busy area wedding In a city in northern Iraq, which killed more than 100 people, it was blamed on “gross negligence” and a lack of safety measures, according to the results of a government investigation into the disaster.
The results of the investigation, announced at a news conference on Sunday by Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari, said the salon’s owner and three other staff members had allowed 900 people in when it was designed for a maximum of 400.
“The fire was accidental and unintentional and occurred due to gross negligence,” according to the results of the investigation.
“The use of flammable decorations helped the fire spread quickly and turned the room into a ball of fire,” Shammari said.
(1/2)Volunteers search for the remains of bodies missing after a fatal fire at a wedding celebration, in Hamdaniya district, Nineveh province, Iraq, September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad Acquire license rights
The fire trapped people inside the wedding hall and rescuers had difficulty reaching them because exit doors were few and small, Shammari said.
At least 150 people were injured in the fire that took place in the Christian town of Hamdaniya, also known as Qaraqosh.
The Home Secretary put the death toll at 107 and said the inquiry panel had proposed that the government should provide financial support to the families of the dead and injured.
The investigation also recommended that legal action be taken against local officials.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani visited fire victims at two local hospitals on Thursday and pledged to hold those responsible accountable.
Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed. Editing by Jane Merriman
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