By Bekir Aydogan

ERBIL, Iraq (AA): At least 100 people died in a fire at a wedding celebration in Iraq’s northern Nineveh province, local authorities said Wednesday.

Another 500 people were injured in the fire, which broke out at Al Haytham Wedding Hall in Al-Hamdaniya district, local media reported, citing Ahmed Hamdani, deputy director of the Mosul Health Department.

There were 800 people at the wedding hall when the fire broke out, according to reports.

The Iraqi News Agency (INA) said the fire was caused by fireworks, candles and other materials used during the event.

Fire brigades and ambulances from surrounding provinces were dispatched to the area.

Interior Minister Abdul Amir Al-Shammari also headed to the region.

Ahmed Dubardani, a health official in the province, told Rudaw TV that many of those injured suffered serious burns.

“The majority of them were completely burned and some others had 50 to 60% of their bodies burned,” Dubardani said. “This is not good at all. The majority of them were not in good condition.”

The wedding hall where the fire broke out was covered with highly flammable Ecobond panels that violated safety instructions requirements, according to the Iraqi Civil Defense, according to Iraqi news agencey INI.

“The fire led to the collapse of parts of the hall as a result of the use of highly flammable, low-cost building materials that collapse within minutes when fire breaks out,” the Civil Defense statement said.

Footage of the fire breaking out while the bride and groom were dancing was widely circulated on social media, also showing people running left and right in panic.

Additional report from local media

[Photo: Injured child on hospital bed injured in fire at wedding celebration at Al Haytham Wedding Hall in Nineveh province in Mosul, Iraq 27 9 23.
Photojournalist Ismael Adnan Yaqoob/ AA]