Fire at Iraq mall kills 69, prime minister orders probe

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

A massive fire in a hypermarket in al-Kut city in southern Iraq has left at least 69 people dead and 11 others missing, the city's health authorities and two police sources told Reuters on Thursday (July 17).

Videos verified by Reuters showed firefighters spraying water on the blazing building overnight and people climbing from the roof with the help of rescue teams. (0500-IRAQ-FIRE/UGC)

Verified by:

Reuters was able to confirm the location of the videos from the building and its exteriors seen in the video matched file and satellite imagery.

Reuters was able to confirm the location and date of the videos from original file metadata.

AL-KUT, IRAQ (JULY 16, 2025) (HUSSEIN AL-SHEIKH - No resale / No archives / Must on-screen courtesy Hussein al-Sheikh) (NIGHT SHOTS) (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT)

1. PEOPLE ON ROOF / FIRE BURNING

2. FIREFIGHTERS DOUSING FIRE

3. PEOPLE ON ROOF

The cause of the fire was not immediately known, but an initial police report suggested that the fire had first erupted on the floor where perfumes and cosmetics are sold. (0482- IRAQ-FIRE/)

AL-KUT, IRAQ (JULY 17, 2025) (RUDAW - No use Iraq, Must not obscure logo, Must credit RUDAW)

4. SMOKE COMING OUT OF BUILDING

5. FIREFIGHTERS AT SCENE

6. FIREFIGHTERS IN BUILDING / FIRE CREW MEMBER TAKING PICTURES

7. VARIOUS OF BURNT FACE OF BUILDING / FIRE CREW AT SCENE

Reuters' footage of the aftermath of the overnight fire showed the blackened exterior of "Corniche Hypermarket" building, with rescue teams and security forces still at the site. (0496-IRAQ-FIRE/)

AL KUT, IRAQ (JULY 17, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

8. VARIOUS OF FIRE TRUCKS IN FRONT OF BURNED BUILDING

9. VARIOUS OF FACADE OF BURNED BUILDING

10. ENTRANCE TO BUILDING

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EYEWITNESS, ALI AL ZARGANI, SAYING:

"It was truly a disaster in every sense of the word. We've never experienced anything like this in the history of Kut. More than 100 people are either missing or injured, and the numbers of the injured is more. Even now, we still don’t know the fate of many people."

12. PEOPLE NEAR THE SCENE

13. LAW ENFORCEMENT ON SITE

Concerned crowds gathered outside Kut hospital, anxiously awaiting updates on survivors.

While the cause of the fire remains unknown, the province's governor announced that preliminary findings from an ongoing investigation would be released within 48 hours, as reported by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).

(0511-IRAQ-FIRE/HOSPITAL)

AL-KUT, IRAQ (JULY 17, 2025) (RUDAW - No use Iraq, Must not obscure logo, Must credit RUDAW)

14. MAN CRYING OUTSIDE HOSPITAL / CROWDS GATHERED

15. IRAQIS STANDING OUTSIDE KUT HOSPITAL

16. VARIOUS OF MAN CRYING INTO HEAD SCARF

17. VARIOUS OF SECURITY AND CROWDS OUTSIDE HOSPITAL

(0549-IRAQ-FIRE/HOSPITAL)

AL KUT, IRAQ (JULY 17, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

18. WOMAN SITTING ON THE SIDE-WALK CRYING

19. PEOPLE STANDING OUTSIDE KUT HOSPITAL

20. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRAQI CITIZEN, MOHAMMED RASHIZ, SAYING:

“We came here to offer our condolences and support. We brought vehicles, water, and whatever else they might need, we are at their service. May God grant them patience in the face of this tragedy that struck Al Kut from yesterday until today. We ask God to have mercy on the victims with His vast mercy."

21. PEOPLE STANDING OUTSIDE KUT HOSPITAL

The governor of Wasit province, Mohammad Jamil Al-Mayahi, visited the site of the devastating fire. (0552-IRAQ-FIRE/INTERIORS)

AL-KUT, IRAQ (JULY 17, 2025) (ORIGINALLY FILMED IN PORTRAIT) (WASIT GOVERNORATE VIA FACEBOOK - No archive/ No resales/ Must courtesy Wasit Governorate via Facebook)

22. WASIT GOVERNOR MOHAMMAD JAMIL AL-MAYAHI CLIMBING THROUGH WINDOW OF MALL BUILDING

23. VARIOUS OF AL-MAYAHI INSPECTING AFTERMATH OF MALL FIRE