Iraqi security forces block the road in front of a charred building on July 17, 2025 after a fire tore through the newly opened Hyper Mall overnight in the eastern Iraqi city of Kut, killing at least 60 people, according to Iraqi authorities. AFP
At least 55 people were killed and dozens more injured when a massive fire broke out late Wednesday at the newly opened Hyper Mall in the eastern Iraqi city of Kut, about 160 kilometres southeast of Baghdad.
The blaze began on the first floor and rapidly engulfed the building. While the exact cause remains under investigation, an air conditioner explosion is believed to have triggered the fire.
According to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Egypt also reaffirmed its full solidarity with Iraq, wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Iraq frequently witnesses deadly accidents and fires, particularly during the sweltering summer months when temperatures soar to nearly 50°C (122°F).
Tragic incidents in recent years include a 2023 inferno at a packed wedding hall that left over 100 people dead, and a 2021 hospital fire in a southern city that claimed more than 60 lives in a COVID-19 ward.
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