Safety violations
Civil defense in Kirkuk shuts down 15 venues
KIRKUK– The Civil Defense Directorate in Kirkuk has ordered the temporary closure of 15 event and celebration halls due to non-compliance with safety regulations.
Qais Abdulrazzaq, the spokesperson for Kirkuk’s Civil Defense Directorate, told 964media that, “The crackdown was aimed at enforcing adherence to safety.”
According to Abdulrazzaq, the directive, based on decision number 44 of 2013, mandates a 15-day shutdown for these venues to address and rectify their safety deficiencies. Failure to comply within the designated period could result in extended closures.
The safety requirements specified by Abdulrazzaq include having no fewer than three emergency exits in each hall, prohibiting the use of sandwich panel roofing, the installation of a fire extinguishing system, a minimum of ten fire extinguishers within the premises, adequate ventilation, and multiple windows to ensure escape routes in case of fire and to allow access for firefighting teams.
This enforcement action follows a tragic incident on the night of Sept. 26, 2023, in a hall in the Hamdaniya district, where a fire during a wedding celebration resulted in 134 fatalities, numerous injuries, and five individuals still missing.
In the aftermath of this disaster, civil defense authorities and committees across the Kurdistan Region have intensified inspections and monitoring of safety measures in public venues.