At least 61 people have died after a huge fire ripped through a shopping mall in Iraq, with a survivor saying the inferno began after an air conditioning unit exploded.<\/p>\n
Officials have launched an investigation into the blaze at the newly-opened six-storey Corniche Hypermarket Mall in the city of Kut, where men, women and children were said to be shopping last night.<\/p>\n
The blaze reportedly began on the first floor of the building before tearing through the entire block, with horrifying video showing the block engulfed by flames and smoke.<\/p>\n
Harrowing footage circulating on social media appears to show people on the roof as the flames rose up the building. It is unclear whether they were rescued.<\/p>\n
Firefighters rescued a number of people from the building, local media reports. Ambulances were still taking casualties to hospital until 4am local time.<\/p>\n
Chilling pictures of the aftermath this morning show the building completely blackened and burned out, with firefighters still at the scene.<\/p>\n
Searches were continuing for the missing in the building\u2019s wreckage this morning.<\/p>\n
A medical source said there are \u2018many unidentified bodies,\u2019 with the dead said to include men, women and children.<\/p>\n
Iraq\u2019s interior ministry said in a statement: \u2018The tragic fire claimed the lives of 61 innocent citizens, most of whom suffocated in bathrooms, and among them 14 charred bodies yet to be identified.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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