Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani has met injured victims of the devastating wedding inferno that left at least 100 people dead in the north of the country, the presidency said.
The fire started shortly before midnight on Tuesday in Nineveh province when sparklers were lit as the bride and groom prepared for their slow dance.
Within seconds, the ceiling of the hall caught fire and burning pieces began falling to the ground. The fire took hold quickly, trapping many inside as the power went out.
There were about 1,000 guests in the hall in the predominantly Christian district of Al Hamdaniyah, also known as Qaraqosh, to the east of Mosul.
Iraqi authorities put the total death toll at 113 and said many of the victims were burnt alive, while others were killed by the stampede. Rescue operations continued until noon on Wednesday.
Many of the survivors suffered complex burn injuries that require specialised medical treatment, health authorities said.
Mr Al Sudani met the injured patients and families of victims at Al Hamdaniyah and Al Jumhoori hospitals, leading a delegation of ministers and security officials, a statement from his office said. He ordered those in a critical condition to be sent abroad for treatment, it added.
He later visited the Syriac Catholic Mar Behnam Monastery to express his condolences to victims.
A meeting was also held with provincial authorities, stressing the need to carry out security and safety checks at public buildings, restaurants, hotels and events halls.
Mr Al Sudani also ordered authorities to “impose the maximum legal penalties on those responsible and negligent individuals who were behind the tragic fire incident,” it added.
Immediately after the incident, the prime minister ordered an investigation and declared a three-day nationwide mourning period.
The results of the inquiry would be announced within 72 hours, Iraq’s Minister of Interior Lt Gen Abdul Amir Al Shammari said.
An initial report established that the fire was caused by fireworks and the venue lacked proper safety and security measures, Mr Al Shammari added.
Fourteen people were arrested – the owner and 13 workers, including three who lit the sparklers – he said.
Mr Al Sudani also directed all ministries, governorates and state institutions to take urgent measures including wide inspections of buildings and verifying safety procedures via the Interior Ministry's Civil Defence Department across all Iraqi provinces.
Provincial authorities in some cities, including Mosul, closed down all event halls, cafeterias and restaurants and they will not be opened before security checks are conducted.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation has provided critical medical assistance and supplies to hospitals in Al Hamdaniyah and Mosul, it said in a statement.
It also collaborated with Iraqi efforts to mobilise additional response resources for the transport and treatment of the injured to Mosul and Erbil hospitals, it added.
"This collaborative effort aimed to assist local health authorities in delivering vital medical care with the utmost urgency," the statement said.
“WHO in Iraq commends the Ministry of Health’s tireless efforts and stands ready to provide the necessary assistance to save lives and alleviate the suffering of the injured,” said WHO representative and head of mission in Iraq, Dr Wael Hatahit.
Such accidents are common in Iraq, given poor building standards, corruption and lack of accountability.
Al Hamdaniyah is a cluster of small towns and villages that are mostly Christian.
It is also home to Yazidi minority and Muslims. It was occupied by ISIS when they swept through large areas in northern and western Iraq in mid-2014, forcing residents to flee to Kurdistan region.
It was liberated two years later as part of US-backed wide-scale military operations to drive the militants out.
Many Christians returned and started to rebuild their lives again in 2017, although many of them are still willing to stay in Kurdistan or abroad where they have settled as refuges, citing security reasons.
The area was one of the main stops for Pope Francis during his visit to Iraq in March 2021.
