According to a statement from an Iraqi official, nine individuals who were employed at the wedding hall where a devastating fire claimed the lives of over 100 people have

been apprehended. Major General Saad Maan, who serves as the director of the Department of Relations and Information in the Interior Ministry, has also disclosed that arrest warrants have been issued for an additional four employees.

The tragic incident is believed to have been caused by a combination of factors, including the absence of adequate health and safety precautions, the use of highly flammable materials in the building's construction, and the apparent use of indoor fireworks.

In response to the calamity, the Iraqi prime minister has declared a period of national mourning lasting three days.

While the precise number of casualties remains unconfirmed, earlier reports from the news agency INA had estimated the death toll to be at least 100, with an additional 150 individuals sustaining injuries. Photo by Pavel Ševela, Wikimedia commons.