ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Over 620 cases of suffocation have been reported following a chlorine gas leak in Iraq’s southern Karbala province, the Iraqi health ministry announced on Sunday. The incident occurred amid the ongoing Arbaeen pilgrimage, one of the largest annual religious gatherings in the world.
In an official statement, the health ministry confirmed it had “recorded 621 suffocation cases in a chlorine gas leakage incident,” adding that “all patients received necessary treatment and were discharged in good health.”
Iraqi interior ministry Spokesperson Miqdad Miri stated that “the leak originated from one of the water directorates along the Najaf-Karbala road,” which is currently hosting millions of pilgrims taking part in the 80-kilometer Arbaeen march between the two holy Shiite cities.
“Civil defense and emergency ambulance teams” responded swiftly to contain the situation and assist affected individuals,” Miri said.
Meanwhile, Karbala Governor Nassif Jassim al-Khattabi visited a local hospital treating the victims and confirmed, “Most cases have left the hospital after receiving the necessary treatment.”
The gas leak comes as millions of religious pilgrims journey to Iraq for Arbaeen, a symbolic walk commemorating the end of the 40-day mourning period following the martyrdom of Imam Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, in the year 680 CE. The pilgrimage is set to culminate on August 15, when crowds are expected to peak in his shrine city of Karbala.
Adnan al-Waeli, head of Iraq’s Border Ports Authority, said on Sunday that nearly three million foreign pilgrims have already entered the country to participate in the pilgrimage, while the total number of pilgrims is typically announced later on the day of Arbaeen.
