None injured in Iraq church complex fire, priest says

The complex caught fire when a spark from construction ignited pieces of paper on the site, the priest at Mark Korkis church in Bashiqa said.

Yasmeen Altaji | Sept. 29, 2023 (Cover photo: Facebook via Steven Nabil)

A fire broke out at a church complex in Bashiqa, Iraq Thursday morning. No people were harmed, according to reports, and the fire was contained.

The three-story Mar Korkis church complex in Bashiqa caught fire Thursday at approximately 10:30 am when a spark from the installation of an iron bar for a cooling system in the facility’s kindergarten fell onto papers on the site, the priest at Mar Korkis, known as Abouna Boulos, told The Word in a message Friday. In addition to the school, the complex houses the church’s event space and a cultural center.

According to Boulos, a small storeroom containing tools, books and stationary sustained damage, but none were injured. 

“We thank God that no one was harmed,” he said.

The fire came just two days after a blaze at an event hall in Iraq’s north tore through an Assyrian wedding and killed near 100. Officials suspect indoor fireworks and violations of safety codes caused the fire.

Boulous said the church complex is equipped with an alarm system and fire extinguishers in case of such emergencies.

“All safety systems were used and the fire was contained until the Civil Defense Directorate in the Bashiqa district was contacted,” he said.