The Gamivan restaurant and café is seen on fire along the Erbil-Pirmam road. (Photo: 964media)
Cause unknown
investigation underway as fire heavily damages Erbil restaurant
ERBIL — A massive fire broke out Sunday at the Gamivan restaurant and café on the Erbil-Pirmam Road, heavily damaging the building, local officials said.
Shakhawan Saeed, spokesperson for Erbil’s Civil Defense, told 964media that the fire was extensive and required the involvement of 11 firefighting teams to bring it under control.
Saeed said teams are currently working to assess the extent of the damage and determine the cause of the fire. “We are awaiting the final report from our teams, and after that, we will announce the results,” he said.
Karwan Mirawdali, head of Soran’s Civil Defense, wrote on his Facebook page that six teams from Soran also assisted in extinguishing the fire.
Two people suffered from smoke inhalation at the scene, but no other injuries were reported.
From January to October 2024, the Erbil Civil Defense recorded 2,057 fire incidents. The leading cause was dried grass and shrubs, accounting for 842 cases. These fires resulted in 46 fatalities — including 22 deaths from burns and 24 from suffocation — and 89 injuries. Civil Defense teams managed to rescue 56 individuals and 11 vehicles during these emergencies.
