The fire in eastern Sulaimani’s industrial Tanjaro area has caused no casualties as response teams scramble to battle the flames, Sulaimani civil defense spokesperson Aram Ali told Rudaw.
Civil defense teams have been working to contain the flames since 3:40 am on Monday, according to a Rudaw reporter on the ground.
The cause of the fire remains unclear, but eyewitnesses told Rudaw it may have been triggered by an electrical short circuit.
An investigation into the fire will be launched once it is extinguished, according to the civil defense, as firefighters attempt to prevent it from spreading to nearby warehouses.
Fires are a perennial concern in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. They are especially frequent in the summertime when the scorching heat increases the risks.
Safety standards are also often ignored in the country. Most buildings lack adequate fire extinguishers, evacuation routes, and emergency exits.
Aging infrastructure, overcrowding, electrical faults, and a lack of basic safety standards are also major underlying factors.
