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A deadly fire tore through a five-story shopping mall in Iraq's Wazit province late Wednesday
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killing at least 69 people. The blaze broke out just a week after the hypermarket opened in the city of Al-Qut
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Iraq's interior ministry says most victims died from suffocation. 14 bodies were so badly burned, they'll need DNA testing to be identified
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Eyewitnesses described panic as flames blocked exits and smoke quickly filled the upper floors
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Some victims were later found inside bathrooms. Civil defense teams rescued more than 45 people, but officials say others may still be buried under the debris
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Iraq's prime minister declared national warning and ordered an immediate investigation. A parallel inquiry from Iraq's Anti-Corruption Commission found the mall had no fire suppression system and lacked emergency exits
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factors that may have turned the building into a death trap. This isn't the first time safety failures have led to tragedy in Iraq
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Similar fires at a hospital in 2021 and a wedding hall in 2023 killed nearly 200 people combined
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Now officials are vowing to hold those responsible accountable and answer growing questions about how a brand new mall was allowed to open without basic fire protections
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For more of our unbiased straight fact reporting, download the Straight Arrow News app today or log on to SAN.com. For Straight Arrow News, I'm Kaylee Carey
