A fire erupted at a recently opened shopping mall in Kut, Iraq, resulting in the deaths of over 60 individuals, including children, officials announced Thursday.
Civil defense units rescued more than 45 individuals trapped in the blaze, which started late Wednesday, according to the Interior Ministry.
Some people remain unaccounted for, as reported by the state-run Iraqi News Agency. Images and videos circulated in local media depicted the Corniche Hypermarket Mall, a five-story establishment that had commenced operations just a week prior, entirely consumed by flames.
Poor building standards have frequently been implicated in such devastating fires across the region.