The blaze at Erbil’s 100-meter ring road near the famous Langa bazaar destroyed one shop and caused minor damage to several adjacent businesses.
Firefighters from Erbil’s civil defense responded by deploying at least 15 teams to combat the flames.
“We have significantly controlled the fire and prevented it from spreading,” civil defense spokesperson Shakhawan Saeed told reporters.
While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, a shop owner told Rudaw that the fire began when a gas heater placed next to an electric heater exploded inside his store.
“I estimate the financial damage to my shop to be between $30,000 and $40,000,” said Azad Hamad, the shop owner.
Fires are a perennial concern in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region where proper safety standards are often lacking. Many buildings ignore safety standards. They lack adequate fire extinguishers and emergency facilities such as evacuation roots and emergency exits.
Many residents rely on electric, gas, and oil heaters to cope with the cold winter, increasing the risk of accidents which are exacerbated by the Kurdistan Region’s shaky power supply.
At least seven fire incidents have been recorded between New Year’s Eve and Wednesday midday, including a deadly one, according to the Kurdistan Region’s civil defense.
On Wednesday, two sisters, aged eight and ten, lost their lives in Sulaimani city after a fire broke out in their house. Their brother was also injured.
Ranja Jamal contributed to this report.
