Horrific blaze claims 113 lives during wedding ceremony in Iraq; scores injured

• Fire ravaged spacious hall in northeastern region after fireworks ignited.
• Eyewitnesses recount the horrifying scene, with one survivor.
• Findings suggest building constructed using highly flammable materials.

A fire erupted during a wedding ceremony at an event hall in the northern Iraqi town of Al-Hamdaniyah, resulting in the loss of over 100 lives and leaving more than 150 individuals injured, as reported by state media and health officials.

Rescue efforts continued into the early hours of Wednesday. 

The death toll was confirmed by Nineveh Deputy Governor Hassan al-Allaq, who reported 113 fatalities, while state media stated at least 100 deaths along with 150 injuries.

The fire ravaged a spacious events hall in the northeastern region after fireworks were ignited during the celebratory event, as per statements from local civil defence officials, reported through state media. Eyewitnesses recounted the horrifying scene, with one survivor, Imad Yohana, describing the fire pulsating from the hall. Those who managed to escape were fortunate, while others got trapped inside.

Videos captured by a Reuters correspondent on-site depicted firefighters navigating the charred remains of the building under the cover of darkness, using powerful lights to search for survivors.

Preliminary findings suggest that the building was constructed using highly flammable materials, a significant contributing factor to its rapid collapse, as reported by state media.

In response to the tragedy, ambulances and medical teams were swiftly dispatched to the scene, with both federal Iraqi authorities and Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region providing assistance, as detailed in official statements.

The incident unfolded around 10:45 p.m. local time (1945 GMT), with hundreds of people in attendance at the time, as stated by eyewitnesses at the scene.

At the primary hospital in Hamdaniyah, which is predominantly a Christian town situated east of Mosul, an AFP photographer observed multiple ambulances arriving with sirens blaring, while a crowd gathered to donate blood in the courtyard. 

In addition, individuals were seen at the doors of a refrigerated truck containing several black body bags.

Civil defence authorities reported the presence of prefabricated panels within the event hall that were "highly flammable and contravened safety standards." 

The statement also highlighted that the use of highly flammable, low-cost construction materials led to parts of the ceiling collapsing due to the fire.

The tragic incident underscores the persistent safety challenges in Iraq's construction and transport sectors, where standards are often disregarded. The country's infrastructure remains in a state of disrepair after years of conflict, making it a frequent scene of fatal fires and accidents.