Bride and groom among 100 killed during 'first dance' at Iraqi wedding after 'fireworks set off inside hall'

27 September 2023, 05:50 | Updated: 27 September 2023, 08:47

At least 114 people have died and 150 are injured after a catastrophic wedding fire in Iraq.

The blaze, which took place in the region of Nineveh on Tuesday evening, is said to have been caused by fireworks that were set off inside.

A guest said that the bride and groom "were about to do a slow dance and then they lit up this thing for the dance which caught fire."

Footage shown by a local broadcaster, apparently shot by a guest, showed fireworks shooting up from the floor and setting a chandelier overhead on fire.

TV footage shows the wedding hall, which is in the predominantly Christian area of Hamdaniya, close to the city of Mosul, engulfed in flames.

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The bride and groom can be seen on the dance floor at the outbreak of the fire in separate footage. They appear stunned by the sight of the burning debris. It was not clear if they were among those injured or killed.

No official cause of the fire has been given yet.

Prime minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered an investigation and asked the country's interior and health officials to provide relief, his office said in a statement online.

He said he had phoned the governor and "the Ministers of Interior and Health are directed to mobilize all efforts to provide relief to those affected by the unfortunate incident.

Health Ministry spokesman Saif al-Badr said: "All efforts are being made to provide relief to those affected by the unfortunate accident."

The wedding hall was decorated with illegal, highly flammable cladding.

Officials said: "The fire led to the collapse of parts of the hall as a result of the use of highly flammable, low-cost building materials that collapse within minutes when the fire breaks out."

Authorities warned the death toll from the fire could yet rise.