A fire at an Iraqi supermarket has resulted in nearly 50 deaths, with many people calling for help from the rooftop.

From the evening of the 16th to the early hours of the 17th, a major fire broke out at a large supermarket in Kut city, the provincial capital of Waset province in eastern Iraq. Footage showed that the building’s upper floors were engulfed in fierce flames, with several people calling for help from the rooftop.
In the morning of the 17th, the governor of Waset province announced on social media platforms that the fire had resulted in nearly 50 deaths and stated that Waset province would mourn for the victims for three days. He also pledged to release preliminary findings of the fire investigation to the public within 48 hours.
The governor of Waset province urgently ordered all hospitals in the province to enter a state of full readiness, while also mobilizing municipal, water services, and sewage treatment departments to collaborate in firefighting and rescue efforts. (CCTV Wang Yin)