Kuwait city: The Iraqi Ministry of Interior reported on Thursday that the death toll from the recent mall fire in Wasit governorate has risen to 61. A higher investigation committee has been formed to thoroughly investigate the incident.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the Ministry explained in a press release that the majority of the victims died from suffocation inside restrooms, and 14 bodies were found completely charred and remain unidentified. Civil defense teams were able to rescue more than 45 individuals trapped inside the building.
In response to the tragedy, the Iraqi Interior Minister has ordered the formation of an investigation committee comprising experts to determine the cause of the fire and identify any deficiencies in safety measures accurately and transparently. The five-story mall, which included a hypermarket, was inaugurated only a week before the fire broke out.