Iraq’s Kut protests over deadly fire

Shafaq News – Wasit (Updated: 1:40 p.m.)

Dozens gathered on Sunday outside the Wasit Provincial Council building in central Kut to protest the deadly fire that swept through a local hypermarket earlier this week.

The demonstration brought together relatives of the victims and other residents, who marched through the streets chanting slogans and carrying mourning flags.

Later, Iraq’s chief public prosecutor and head of judicial oversight visited the Wasit Appeals Court to monitor the investigation into the deadly Kut fire, the judiciary said. The delegation urged a swift conclusion to the probe and called for all necessary legal steps to uncover the truth and ensure those responsible are held accountable.

The fire, which erupted on July 17, claimed dozens of lives and injured many others, making it one of the deadliest incidents in Iraq this year.

The tragedy prompted the arrest of senior officials linked to the incident. Meanwhile, Iraq’s Civil Defense Directorate launched a nationwide crackdown, ordering the closure of 1,118 projects within 48 hours for violating fire safety regulations.