Iraqi security arrests 14 involved in serious fire at wedding in northern Iraq
The damages caused by fire at the Al-Haitham Hall in the Al-Hamdaniya district in Nineveh governorate. Photo: The Vaultz News
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of 14 people involved in a fire that broke out at a wedding party in northern Iraq on Tuesday night, killing about 100 people.
The suspects are 10 of the wedding hall’s staff, the owner and three others responsible for lighting off the fireworks that caused the fire.
The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani, mentioned that an investigation committee is working on determining the causes and identifying areas of carelessness.
Al-Sudani also directed that those to blame for the negligence that led to the horrible accident receive the strongest punishment.
The Iraqi Prime Minister also instructed every necessary agency to review safety protocols at dining establishments, hotels and event venues.
The Civil Defense Directorate mentioned that the wedding hall was coated with easily ignited sheets, breaching safety protocols, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA).
The health directorate in Nineveh governorate reported on Thursday that 98 people died in the fire that broke out at Al-Haitham Hall in Al-Hamdaniya district, southeast of the city of Mosul.
Witnesses said the fire started after several fireworks were lit during the wedding before parts of the ceiling that caught fire started falling on people’s heads.