Wedding Carnage: Iraq's Deadliest Night

A fire at a wedding celebration in Qaraqosh, Iraq, killed more than 100 people and injured at least 150 others. The fire is believed to have started when fireworks were set off, causing the ceiling of the wedding hall to catch fire and collapse. The hall was covered in highly flammable materials, which witnesses say fuelled the blaze and led to parts of the building collapsing within minutes.

A fire at a wedding party in Qaraqosh, Iraq, killed around 100 people

Fireworks set off during a wedding celebration in Qaraqosh, Iraq, are thought to have caused a fire that killed around 100 people. The fire broke out at al-Haitham Hall, a large event venue on the outskirts of Qaraqosh, on Tuesday 26 September 2023.

Qaraqosh, also known as Bakhdida, is the biggest Christian town in Iraq and is located about 15km (9 miles) southeast of Mosul. Footage from the scene showed thick smoke billowing out of the wedding hall while crowds and ambulances gathered outside.

The fire is believed to have started between 22:00 and 22:45 local time when fireworks were set off as the bride and groom danced. One witness told Rudaw, an Iraqi Kurdish news agency, that a firework hit the roof, causing the ceiling to catch fire. "Everything caught fire and started falling on people's heads. Nobody was able to get out," they said.

Another witness, Rania Waad, who sustained a burn to her hand, said: "The fireworks started to climb to the ceiling [and] the whole hall went up in flames. We couldn't see anything. We were suffocating, we didn't know how to get out."

Imad Yohana, a 34-year-old who escaped the fire, said: "We saw the fire pulsating, coming out of the hall. Those who managed got out and those who didn't got stuck. Even those who made their way out were broken."

The exact number of victims is unclear, with reports of the death toll ranging from 94 to 119. However, a government investigative committee announced on Sunday that 107 people were killed. Many of those who died were members of the same family.

The injured were transferred to hospitals in the nearby Kurdistan region and the city of Mosul. The Iraqi government issued a three-day national mourning period following the blaze.

Fourteen people were arrested in connection with the incident, including the hall's owner and four people involved in setting off the fireworks. The interior minister said the hall lacked the required safety specifications and that those responsible would "get their fair punishment".

The fire was caused by fireworks and exacerbated by flammable materials

A fire at a wedding in Qaraqosh, Iraq, killed at least 100 people and injured 150 more. The fire was caused by fireworks and exacerbated by flammable materials, specifically highly flammable metal and plastic composite panels that covered the hall.

The fire broke out during a wedding celebration in Qaraqosh, Iraq's biggest Christian town, on Tuesday night. Fireworks were set off as the bride and groom danced, and the flames quickly spread across the hall. The panels that covered the hall, known as "sandwich panels," were made of metal and plastic composite and fuelled the blaze. These panels are illegal in the country and have been blamed for several previous fires in Iraq.

The Iraqi Civil Defense stated that the wedding hall was covered with highly flammable Ecobond panels that violated safety instruction requirements. The use of these low-cost building materials caused parts of the hall to collapse within minutes of the fire breaking out. The Civil Defence Directorate also noted that these panels release toxic gases when burned, exacerbating the fire.

The owner of the hall, believing that the fire was caused by a short circuit, cut the electricity, which had a significant impact. This decision plunged the hall into darkness, making it difficult for people to find their way out. The bride, who lost ten relatives in the fire, including her mother and brother, described how she got lucky because she was close to the exit. She also mentioned that her entire family was seated near the stage, the farthest from the exit, which explained why they all died.

The fire was a devastating tragedy that claimed the lives of many and left others injured. The Iraqi government issued a three-day national mourning period, and authorities have promised to investigate and hold those responsible accountable.

The US military attacked a wedding in Mukaradeeb, Iraq, in 2004, killing 42

On May 19, 2004, the US military attacked a wedding party in Mukaradeeb, a small village in Anbar Province, Iraq, near the Syrian border. The attack, which began at around 2:45 am, killed 42 civilians, including women and children, and wounded many others.

The wedding united members of the Rakat and Sabah families: Ashad Rakat was the groom and Rutba Sabah was the bride. The celebrations included traditional firing of weapons into the air by guests. The American bombing started at 3:00 am, with witnesses describing fighter jets, helicopters, and warplanes participating in the attack.

The US military denied that a wedding had been hit, claiming that the location was a suspected foreign fighter safe house and that insurgents had been killed. They asserted that they had come under fire first and that their response was within the rules of engagement. Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, the coalition deputy chief of staff for US operations in Iraq, defended the action, stating, "We took ground fire and we returned fire. We estimate that around 40 were killed. But we operated within our rules of engagement."

However, local accounts, including testimony from survivors and Iraqi officials, contradicted the US military's claims. They stated that the attack had targeted a wedding party, resulting in the deaths of 42 people, including women and children. Video footage obtained by the Associated Press also appeared to contradict the US military's narrative, showing scenes of a wedding celebration and fragments of musical instruments and festive decorations among the wreckage.

Despite the evidence against them, the US military refused to apologize or acknowledge any wrongdoing in the aftermath of the attack.

The Iraqi government declared three days of national mourning

The Iraqi Civil Defense stated that the hall was covered with highly flammable Ecobond panels that violated safety instruction requirements. Fireworks set off inside the hall ignited the ceiling, causing it to collapse on the wedding guests. The Iraqi government formed an investigative committee to identify the cause of the incident and determine who was responsible.

Fourteen people were arrested in connection with the fire, including the owner of the hall and staff members. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani instructed his cabinet to assist those affected by the fire and ordered a full mobilization to aid the victims. He also demanded "the toughest punishments permitted by law" for those responsible for negligence or failings that led to the tragic fire.

The disaster sparked anger and protests across Iraq, with people demanding better safety measures and accountability. The country has a history of corruption, mismanagement, and a lack of safety measures, which have contributed to similar incidents in the past. The Iraqi government's declaration of three days of national mourning reflected the severity of the tragedy and allowed the country to grieve and pay respect to the victims.

The mourning period provided an opportunity for people to come together and support each other during a difficult time. It also served as a reminder of the need for improved safety standards and accountability to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future. The national mourning united the country in grief and solidarity, with people from all walks of life expressing their condolences and offering support to the families of the victims.

The incident highlights safety issues and corruption in the country

The tragic incident at a wedding in Iraq, where a fire caused by fireworks killed and injured hundreds of people, highlights the country's safety issues and corruption.

The wedding hall in Qaraqosh, in northern Iraq, did not adhere to safety criteria, with highly flammable materials used in its construction, a lack of fire extinguishers, and inadequate emergency exits. This is not an isolated incident in Iraq, as corruption and mismanagement are widespread, hindering progress in improving safety standards.

The country has struggled with political instability, violence, and a weak rule of law since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. The governance system, known as muhasasa, has been criticised for entrenching sectarianism, nepotism, and state capture. Despite consecutive governments' promises to address corruption through reforms, insufficient action has been taken due to systemic challenges, weak institutions, and resistance from vested interests.

As a result, Iraq lacks a robust legal framework and independent anti-corruption institutions to effectively combat corruption. This has led to a decline in citizen trust in the government and its institutions, with protests across the country demanding better living conditions, including improved safety measures.

The Iraqi government has responded to the wedding hall fire by promising to inspect buildings and scrutinise safety procedures, holding accountable those responsible for any negligence. However, similar promises made in the past, such as after the 2021 hospital fire in Nasiriya that killed nearly 100 people due to a lack of safety measures, have not resulted in significant improvements.

The incident at the wedding in Qaraqosh underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to address safety issues and root out corruption in Iraq, ensuring that such tragedies do not occur again.

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