A fire that tore through a five-storey shopping centre in the Iraqi city of Kut has left at least 60 dead.
Officials said the blaze at the mall, which opened seven days ago, broke out on Wednesday night and has since been brought under control.
While social media videos showed firefighters rescuing people from the mall’s roof, state media reported that many are still missing.
“A tragedy and a calamity has befallen us,” regional governor Mohammed al-Miyahi said.
Miyahi, who said legal action would be brought against the shopping centre’s owner, has also declared three days of mourning.
Videos on INA’s news channel show flames ripping through several floors of the Corniche Hypermarket in the city’s centre, as firefighters try to douse them.
Other clips circulating on social media show a small number of people on the roof during the fire.
A number of people were rescued from the building by firefighters, al-Miyahi told local media.
Ambulances were still taking casualties to hospitals in the city, which is about 160 km (100 miles) southeast of Baghdad, at 04:00 local time.
The interior ministry said in a statement that the tragic fire claimed the lives of 61 innocent citizens.
Most of the victims suffocated in bathrooms, and among them 14 charred bodies yet to be identified.
It added that 45 people were rescued from inside the building.
