Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani visits the burned interior of the Corniche Hypermarket in Kut on Thursday, following a fire that killed at least 61 people.
'A form of killing'
Iraqi cabinet convenes emergency session after deadly Kut fire, vows accountability
BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani convened an emergency cabinet meeting Thursday following the fire that killed at least 61 people at a commercial center in Kut, calling it the result of “repeated negligence” and demanding swift accountability.
The session opened with a recitation of Al-Fatiha in honor of the victims, after which Al-Sudani condemned what he described as systemic failures behind the disaster. He compared the blaze to a series of previous tragedies in Iraq, including the 2023 Hamdaniya fire in Nineveh province, and earlier blazes at Ibn Al-Khatib Hospital in Baghdad and Al-Naqaa Center in Dhi Qar.
“This tragic fire occurred due to the same errors that caused the Hamdaniya incident–the same negligence and disregard for health and occupational safety standards,” Al-Sudani said, adding that he had spoken with the interior minister and the Wasit governor immediately after the incident.
“This is not just an accident. It is a form of killing–a result of corruption that is not limited to the theft of public funds, but also includes the failure to enforce safety regulations in commercial centers,” he said.
Late Wednesday night, a fire broke out at the five-story Corniche Hypermarket in central Kut, killing at least 61 people and injuring dozens more, according to the Interior Ministry. Most victims died of smoke inhalation, and many were found trapped in bathrooms. Civil defense teams rescued more than 45 people from the building, which also housed a restaurant. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
During Thursday’s session, the cabinet approved a draft law to organize compensation and support for victims of multiple disasters, including those at Ibn Al-Khatib Hospital, Al-Naqaa Center, the Hamdaniya fire, and the Kut commercial complex. The bill will be submitted to parliament, replacing an earlier version that covered only hospital and center fires.
A special investigative committee has been formed to determine responsibility for the Kut blaze. It has been given five days to submit findings and recommendations to the Council of Ministers.
The cabinet also approved compensation of 10 million Iraqi dinars (about $7,140) for the family of each deceased victim. The Ministry of Health was directed to provide medical care for the injured, including overseas treatment if needed, at the state’s expense.
Earlier in the day, Al-Sudani visited the site of the fire in Kut, where blackened walls and collapsed floors bore witness to one of Iraq’s deadliest fire tragedies in recent years.
