Iraq Wedding Fire: Bride Loses Family, Over Hundred Guests Pass Away

A tragic incident occurred in Iraq recently where a massive fire outbreak during a wedding ceremony claimed the lives of 119 individuals. 

A video recently emerged across social media, depicting the heartbreaking moment of the Iraqi woman known as the ‘Hamdaniya Bride,’ named Haneen, where she can be seen mourning her father's death at his funeral, which followed the tragic fire that occurred during her wedding.

Haneen's father passed away due to injuries sustained in the devastating wedding hall fire in Al-Hamdaniya, located in the Nineveh Governorate in northern Iraq. In the circulating footage, the 19-year-old bride could be seen walking behind her father's casket while dressed in black attire. She leaned on her husband, Revan (27 years old), and another woman for support. Haneen appeared utterly devastated, crying and repeatedly uttering, "Oh Lord," as a woman tried to console her. 

فيديو.. عروس الحمدانية تودع والدها بعد وفاته اليوم متأثراً بحروقه ويلتحق بأمها وأخيها pic.twitter.com/1iRSurttaR

— إيرث نيوز (@earth_news_iq) October 3, 2023

Haneen suffered the loss of ten family members, including her mother and brother, in the fire. Her husband, Revan, also lost 15 of his relatives.  

Iraq Wedding Tragedy

A video footage of the incident went viral that starts with the couple's first dance. Sparks were observed in the large chandelier hanging from the ceiling. This chandelier was adorned with wedding decorations that could easily catch fire. The sparks swiftly ignited a blaze, causing it to spread rapidly and leading guests to flee in a state of panic. As most people evacuated the main hall, massive beams, fully engulfed in flames, collapsed to the ground.

While the bride and groom managed to survive the fire with what were described as "minor burns," the immense sorrow of losing numerous loved ones was an incredibly painful experience for them. This sentiment was expressed by Jamil al-Jamil, a close friend of the couple, as reported by the news agency AFP.

Additionally, around 150 guests sustained injuries, including burns, smoke inhalation, and injuries from a stampede that ensued as people panicked and tried to leave the venue. Fire authorities suspect that the use of indoor fireworks triggered the ignition of ceiling decorations, leading to a swift spread of the fire within the reception hall. This hall was constructed using highly flammable materials.

WATCH: Extremely terrifying footage of the wedding that became a graveyard — Over 100 killed as fire rips through the marriage hall in Iraq

pic.twitter.com/QtQ2m55Qxo

— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) October 2, 2023

It's worth noting that government investigations into the massive fire concluded that the primary cause was gross negligence and a failure to provide safety measures in the hall.

Suggested Reading: Cloudburst In Sikkim Cause Flash Floods: 23 Army Personnel Missing