ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani has ordered referring a number of top former and current local officials in Wasit province to the judiciary, over a devastating fire that killed at least 60 people in a shopping mall in mid-July, approving findings of a probe into the calamity by an investigative committee.
A massive fire at a newly opened shopping mall in Wasit’s provincial capital of Kut late Wednesday killed 63 people and sparked outrage from the Iraqi public over lax safety standards. Most deaths were caused by smoke inhalation, with no emergency exits in place for victims to use.
Prime Minister Sudani has "approved the findings of the investigative committee on the tragic fire in the city of Kut on July 16, 2025," read a statement from the premier's office on Sunday. "The committee confirmed that several officials and employees failed to fulfill their duties and neglected the responsibilities entrusted to them."
The five-story building, spanning about 350 square meters, had been built "without a construction permit," according to Sudani's office, citing the findings of the investigation.
The prime minister's order has been issued against "the former Governor of Wasit, the Director of Civil Defense in the province, the former and current Directors of Kut Municipality, the Director of Wasit Electricity Distribution, along with all employees responsible for monitoring violations and those who facilitated the unauthorized electricity connection for the building."
Fires are a recurring threat in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, where enforcement of fire and safety regulations is often inadequate. The risk increases significantly during the summer months, when extreme heat exacerbates the potential for electrical faults and other fire hazards.
Contributing factors include aging infrastructure, overcrowded public spaces, poor electrical systems, and a widespread lack of basic fire safety measures.
Following the tragic fire of Kut, the government decided to provide 10 million dinars (around $7,600) in compensation for the family of each victim. The health ministry was also instructed to cover medical treatment for the injured, both inside and outside the country.