According to Iraq’s Ministry of Health, most of the victims were shoppers, store workers, and mall employees. More than 30 people sustained injuries, some of them critical, and were taken to nearby hospitals.

Initial investigations suggest the fire started on the ground floor, in a section selling flammable goods like perfumes and oils, before spreading quickly through the upper levels. Early reports point to a possible electrical fault linked to an air conditioning unit as the cause.

Witnesses said the fire spread so fast that many had no time to escape. Officials also confirmed the building lacked proper emergency exits and fire safety systems, raising serious concerns about compliance with building safety regulations.

Mohammed al-Miyahi, Governor of Wasit Province, described the incident as “a national tragedy” and declared three days of mourning. He also announced that the mall’s owner will face legal consequences, citing violations of safety standards and possible negligence during construction.

"We have lost many lives because of mistakes in how this building was constructed and opened. Someone must be held accountable," the governor said in a televised statement.

This incident is the latest in a series of fatal fires that have raised alarm about Iraq’s weak enforcement of public safety rules. In 2023, over 100 people died in a fire at a wedding hall in northern Iraq. In 2021, a hospital fire claimed the lives of more than 90 patients and staff.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani has ordered a full investigation, including an audit of similar buildings across the country to prevent future disasters.

Survivors and grieving families have demanded answers from authorities, criticizing lax oversight and what they describe as a culture of impunity in the construction sector. Many Iraqis have expressed frustration that commercial buildings continue to operate without meeting basic safety codes.