Eleven injured in Zakho gas leak fire during bread-baking

ZAKHO — Eleven people were injured, three women critically, when a gas leak ignited while families were baking traditional bread late Wednesday in Zakho, the central city of the Zakho Autonomous Administration in Duhok governorate, health officials said.

The fire broke out around midnight at a home where relatives had gathered to bake tanka bread, a traditional flatbread cooked over an open flame. The group had finished the first batch and reconnected a gas cylinder for a second round, unaware that gas had been leaking for several minutes, according to information obtained by 964media. When two women tried to light the oven, the accumulated gas ignited, spreading flames around those standing nearby. Neighbors helped put out the fire and drove the injured to Zakho Emergency Hospital, from where doctors transferred them by ambulance to Duhok’s burn hospital for specialized treatment.

Amir Ali, spokesperson for Zakho’s Health Directorate, said all of the injured remain under medical supervision at Duhok Burn Hospital. “Unfortunately, the health condition of three of the women is unstable,” he said, adding that the others suffered less extensive burns. Among the injured were Nora Nashwan, 24, with burns to 90% of her body, and Sulaf Nashwan, 18, and Shirin Yousif, 47, each with burns to 60%. Other victims had burns ranging from 18% to 45%, while one person suffered minor injuries and is in stable condition.