Iraq wedding fire “an accident”, government investigation says

A government investigation determined the Bakhdida wedding fire that killed more than 100 an “accident” in results announced Sunday.

The fire “was accidental and unintentional, and there were shortcomings on the part of the owners of the wedding hall,” investigative committee head Saad Faleh Kassar Al-Dulaimi said in a press conference, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA).

Officials marked a total of 107 deaths and 82 injuries from the fire.

The Iraqi News Agency quoted Al-Dulaimi citing that the hall could only accommodate 500 people but held 600 occupants the night of the fire. 

Reuters cited interior minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari saying at a press conference the hall could accommodate 400 but held 900 the night of the fire. 

The Word could not independently verify either claim at the time of publication.

Officials seemed to pin the cause of the fire on the sparklers, also being called fireworks, set off inside the hall. They also cited too few emergency exits and flammable material inside the hall as factors of the blaze.

The investigation committee also recommended legal action against local officials. 

In a video interview with Rudaw, groom Rizan Esho said he does not accept the results of the probe and called for an “international investigation”.