Daijiworld Media Network- Baghdad

Baghdad, Jul 17: In a horrific overnight tragedy, at least 50 people lost their lives after a massive fire tore through a five-storey shopping mall in Iraq's Wasit province, sending thick plumes of smoke into the night sky and prompting a large-scale emergency response.

Heart-wrenching videos flooded social media, showing the entire building engulfed in flames, with panicked voices heard as firefighters battled to control the blaze through the night. The scale of the destruction has left residents shocked and grief-stricken.

Wasit Governor Mohammed al-Miyahi, speaking to Iraq’s official INA news agency, confirmed the grim toll, stating, “The number of victims has reached about 50 people, martyrs and injured, in the tragic fire at a major shopping centre.”

The exact cause of the inferno remains unknown, though investigators are currently assessing the site. Preliminary findings, according to the governor, are expected to be released within the next 48 hours.

Rescue operations are still under way, with emergency crews sifting through charred debris in search of survivors or additional victims. Hospitals in the region have been placed on high alert to accommodate the wounded.

The Iraqi government is expected to announce further measures once the full extent of the damage is assessed. The incident is likely to raise fresh questions over safety standards and fire preparedness in commercial establishments across the country.