A massive fire engulfed an entire shopping mall in Iraq, resulting in severe casualties.
The blaze, whose cause remains unknown, broke out at the Hyper Mall in the city of
al-Kut, Iraq, and quickly consumed the entire building.
The fire at the Hyper Mall in al-Kut, eastern Iraq, claimed at least 61 lives, according to Wasit Governor Mohammed al-Miyahi
, who spoke to Iraq’s INA news agency.
The blaze erupted late in the evening. According to News Arena India, the fire is believed to have originated on the first floor of the shopping center. Initial reports suggest an
electrical malfunction as the possible cause, though officials have yet to release an official statement.
Local reports indicated that the mall had only been open for five days before the tragedy occurred.
Eyewitnesses at the scene said that as of 4 a.m., ambulances were still transporting the injured and deceased.
Throughout the day, rescue teams continued to recover bodies from the smoldering wreckage.
The wounded were being treated at a hospital in al-Kut, located about 160 kilometers southeast of Baghdad.
“We have filed a lawsuit against the owner of the building and the shopping mall,” Governor al-Miyahi added, noting that
a preliminary investigation report will be released within 48 hours.
Governor al-Miyahi also announced a three-day mourning period across the province.
An investigation has been launched to determine whether the newly constructed building
complied with fire safety regulations, as serious concerns have been raised over the adequacy of emergency exits and firefighting systems.
The tragedy has sparked widespread outrage throughout Iraq, with many calling for
stricter oversight of private commercial development projects—especially those serving large public crowds.
Dick Van Dyke Serenades Crowd at Bernie Sanders Rally After Endorsing the Presidential Hopeful Hollywood legend Dick Van Dyke gave Bernie Sanders supporters in Los Angeles a moment to remember when he broke into song at a campaign rally for the Vermont senator.
The 94-year-old actor took the stage at the LA Convention Center, delighting the crowd with a playful rendition of “We Love You Conrad” from Bye Bye Birdie, reworked into a heartfelt tribute: “We love you, Bernie, yes we do. We love you, Bernie, and we’ll be true. When you’re not near us, we’re blue. Oh Bernie, we love you.”
The audience roared with applause as Van Dyke grinned from behind the podium, later joking about the attention…
Dick Van Dyke Serenades Crowd at Bernie Sanders Rally After Endorsing the Presidential Hopeful Hollywood legend Dick Van Dyke gave Bernie Sanders supporters in Los Angeles a moment to remember when he broke into song at a campaign rally for the Vermont senator.
The 94-year-old actor took the stage at the LA Convention Center, delighting the crowd with a playful rendition of “We Love You Conrad” from Bye Bye Birdie, reworked into a heartfelt tribute: “We love you, Bernie, yes we do. We love you, Bernie, and we’ll be true. When you’re not near us, we’re blue. Oh Bernie, we love you.”
The audience roared with applause as Van Dyke grinned from behind the podium, later joking about the attention on Sanders’ age. Introducing himself as “what’s left of Dick Van Dyke,” he quipped, “I’m 15 years older than Bernie!” Van Dyke praised Sanders as a lifelong patriot rather than a career politician, saying:
“He’s never been — to me — a career politician. He’s just a patriot who worked as hard as he could.” Winning Over the Crowd Social media lit up with reactions to the impromptu performance. One attendee tweeted that the Mary Poppins star “just charmed the pants off 35,000 people.” Another wrote: “Dick Van Dyke absolutely crushed it. What an incredible moment to see this 94-year-old genius LIVE!”
A Formal Endorsement The rally appearance came just days after Van Dyke formally endorsed Sanders in a campaign video. In it, he urged older voters to support the senator, dismissing concerns about age.
“I know I’m 20 years older than Bernie. I have all my marbles! I could run for office if I wanted to,” he said. “So I don’t think age really matters, except for his experience and the years he’s put in.” Calling the 2020 race “the most important election since the end of World War II,” Van Dyke argued Sanders’ consistency and honesty make him the right candidate. “Another four years of the current administration and we won’t have democracy anymore,” he warned. With his humor, warmth, and heartfelt plea, Van Dyke reminded the audience that even at 94, he still knows how to steal the spotlight — and rally a crowd.