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| Iraq: Shopping centre fire leaves multiple dead | Iraq: Shopping centre fire leaves multiple dead |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A fire that tore through a shopping centre in the Iraqi city of Kut has left dozens dead and injured, state media has reported. | A fire that tore through a shopping centre in the Iraqi city of Kut has left dozens dead and injured, state media has reported. |
| The blaze at the mall, which had reportedly opened five days ago, broke out on Wednesday night and has since been brought under control. | The blaze at the mall, which had reportedly opened five days ago, broke out on Wednesday night and has since been brought under control. |
| Medical officials quoted by news agency AFP said 55 people died in the fire, with rescuers still looking for missing people. | |
| "A tragedy and a calamity has befallen us," regional governor Mohammed al-Miyahi said, adding that legal action would be brought against the shopping centre's owner. | "A tragedy and a calamity has befallen us," regional governor Mohammed al-Miyahi said, adding that legal action would be brought against the shopping centre's owner. |
| Videos on INA's news channel show flames ripping through several floors of a multi-storey building as firefighters try to douse them. | Videos on INA's news channel show flames ripping through several floors of a multi-storey building as firefighters try to douse them. |
| Other clips circulating on social media appear to show a small number of people on the roof during the fire, as well as the burned out insides of the centre. | Other clips circulating on social media appear to show a small number of people on the roof during the fire, as well as the burned out insides of the centre. |
| A number of people were rescued from the building by firefighters, al-Miyahi told local media. | A number of people were rescued from the building by firefighters, al-Miyahi told local media. |
| Ambulances were still taking casualties to hospitals in the city, which is about 160 km (100 miles) southeast of Baghdad, at 04:00 local time. | Ambulances were still taking casualties to hospitals in the city, which is about 160 km (100 miles) southeast of Baghdad, at 04:00 local time. |
| Firefighters are continuing to search for missing victims. | Firefighters are continuing to search for missing victims. |
| Nasir al-Quraishi, a doctor in his 50s, told AFP he lost five family members in the blaze. | Nasir al-Quraishi, a doctor in his 50s, told AFP he lost five family members in the blaze. |
| "A disaster has befallen us," he said. "We went to the mall to have some food, eat dinner and escape power cuts at home. | "A disaster has befallen us," he said. "We went to the mall to have some food, eat dinner and escape power cuts at home. |
| "An air conditioner exploded on the second floor and then the fire erupted and we couldn't escape it." | "An air conditioner exploded on the second floor and then the fire erupted and we couldn't escape it." |
| A medical source told the agency: "We have more than 50 martyrs, and many unidentified bodies". | A medical source told the agency: "We have more than 50 martyrs, and many unidentified bodies". |
| An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway, with preliminary findings expected within two days, al-Miyahi said. | An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway, with preliminary findings expected within two days, al-Miyahi said. |
| "The tragedy is a major shock," he said, adding that a "serious review of all safety measures" would take place. | "The tragedy is a major shock," he said, adding that a "serious review of all safety measures" would take place. |
| The shopping had opened just five days ago, AFP reported. | The shopping had opened just five days ago, AFP reported. |
| It has been named as the Corniche Hypermarket Mall in the centre of Kut by local media. | It has been named as the Corniche Hypermarket Mall in the centre of Kut by local media. |