Kuwait city: The Iraqi Cabinet has declared three days of official mourning to express solidarity with the families of the victims affected by the devastating fire incident in a mall located in the Al-Kut area.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the decision was made during an extraordinary session of the Cabinet held on Thursday, which was chaired by Prime Minister Mohammad Al-Sudani. This session was convened to address the aftermath of the tragic event that has claimed numerous lives.
The Iraqi Ministry of Interior reported that the death toll has reached 61. Most of the victims succumbed to suffocation inside restrooms, and 14 bodies were found completely charred and are yet to be identified. The ministry also stated that civil defense teams successfully rescued more than 45 individuals who were trapped inside the building.
The fire broke out last night in a five-story mall located in the Wasit governorate. The mall had only been inaugurated seven days prior to the incident, adding to the shock and tragedy of the event.