KUT: The blaze, which broke out late Tuesday night, engulfed a five-storey commercial building, with dramatic footage circulating on social media showing flames consuming the structure as firefighting teams battled to contain the inferno.

Health authorities in Kut confirmed the identities of 59 victims, while one body was too badly burned to be identified, according to a local health official. “We have prepared a list of the victims, but recovery operations are ongoing,” the official said.

A municipal official in Kut, stated that several bodies remain trapped beneath the rubble, complicating rescue and recovery efforts.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Wasit Governor Mohammed Jamil Al-Mayahi told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that relevant authorities are working to determine the origin of the blaze. “Preliminary findings will be made public within 48 hours with full transparency,” he said.
Governor Al-Mayahi also confirmed that legal proceedings have been initiated against the owner of the building and the mall in connection with the incident.

Emergency services continue their operations at the site as families search for missing loved ones and authorities prepare for a thorough inquiry into one of the deadliest urban fires in recent years in Iraq.