Multiple reputable news sources report that on 16 July 2025, a devastating fire broke out at the newly opened Corniche Hypermarket Mall (also called Hyper Mall) in Kut, in eastern Iraq’s Wasit province.
• Reports confirm at least 60–61 people were killed—many succumbing to smoke inhalation after becoming trapped, particularly in bathrooms or elevators, while 14 charred bodies remain unidentified .
• The blaze reportedly began after an air-conditioning unit exploded on the ground or second floor, igniting flammable materials in a nearby perfume/cosmetics shop .
• Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes: people stranded on the roof, trapped in lifts or washrooms, and rescue efforts using cranes since the mall lacked proper emergency exits and safety infrastructure .
• The building had opened just days earlier and was criticized for having no fire alarms, lacking emergency staircases, and using combustible cladding—factors blamed on negligence and corruption .
• Casualty figures vary slightly; some sources say up to 69 dead with 11 missing, while most mention around 60–61 fatalities .
• Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al‑Sudani has ordered an investigation, and provincial authorities declared three days of mourning and initiated legal action against the mall’s owners and contractors