Fire destroys warehouses on Kirkuk–Erbil road

ERBIL — A fire broke out Monday afternoon at a warehouse facility along the Kirkuk–Erbil road, destroying three to four warehouses and causing material damage, according to initial reports.

The incident occurred around 1 p.m., and witnesses said the fire likely started due to an electrical short circuit.

Shwan Ahmed, an eyewitness, told 964media, “According to initial information, the fire started due to an electrical short and as a result, three to four warehouses burned.”

No injuries or fatalities were reported. Emergency teams from Erbil’s civil defense department were working to contain the fire at the time of reporting.

Erbil recorded more than 1,000 fires during the first seven months of 2025, most caused by electrical malfunctions, according to the city’s civil defense directorate.

The highest number was in June with 270 incidents, followed by 196 in January, 170 in May, 118 in July, 93 in February, 87 in April and 77 in March.