A massive fire at a recently opened shopping mall in eastern Iraq has claimed the lives of more than 60 people, including children, officials said on Thursday.

The blaze broke out late Wednesday at the Corniche Hypermarket Mall in the city of Kut, just a week after the five-story commercial complex opened its doors. According to the Interior Ministry, over 45 people were rescued from the burning building by civil defense teams, while several others remain unaccounted for.

Images shared by local media showed the structure fully consumed by flames. The state-run Iraqi News Agency reported that at least 61 people were killed, most from suffocation, including 14 charred bodies that have yet to be identified.

Authorities have declared a three-day period of mourning in Wasit province. Governor Mohammed al-Mayyeh confirmed legal action has been initiated against the building’s owner and the mall’s management, though the specific charges were not disclosed.

“We assure the victims' families that those responsible, directly or indirectly, will be held accountable,” the governor stated, adding that initial investigation findings would be released within 48 hours.

Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani has ordered the interior minister to visit the site and oversee the investigation, stressing the need for measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Fires caused by poor construction standards have plagued Iraq in recent years. In 2021, a hospital fire in Nasiriyah killed dozens, and in 2023, over 100 people died during a wedding hall fire in Nineveh province — both incidents linked to the use of flammable materials.