“We’ve put together a list of 59 victims whose identity has been confirmed, but one body is burning so badly that it was very difficult to identify,” city health officials told Reuters on Thursday.
“We have more bodies that have not yet been recovered under the fire fragments,” city civil servant Ali Al Mayahi told Reuters.
Social media videos showed the five-storey building where firefighters were trying to lock up the fire swallowed the five-storey building overnight.
Wasit State Governor Mohammed Al Mayahi said fires broke out at hypermarkets and restaurants. The family was having dinner and shopping, he said. Firefighters rescued many people and put out the fire, the governor added.
The three-day mourning was announced and the investigation began. The results of the survey will be released within 48 hours.
“Tragedy and calamity have fallen upon us,” the governor said.
“We filed a lawsuit against the owners of the building and mall,” Ina cited the governor as saying.
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