Deadly Hypermarket Fire in Iraq Exposes Critical Safety Failures

Last night, a devastating fire erupted in a newly opened hypermarket in Kut, the capital of Wasit province southeast of Baghdad, killing at least 63 people and injuring 40 more. Official reports confirm that the five-story building, which had been operational for only seven days, housed a restaurant and large retail spaces.How Did This Tragedy Become Inevitable?The Iraqi Interior Minister Abdulamir al Shammari revealed that most victims succumbed to smoke inhalation trapped in bathrooms, while others were found carbonized. Despite courageous efforts by Civil Defense teams who rescued over 45 trapped individuals, the scale of loss underscores glaring shortcomings in...