Two children killed in Sulaimani house blaze

SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region - Two sisters, aged eight and ten, lost their lives in Sulaimani city after a fire broke out in their house early Wednesday. Their brother was also injured in the incident, according to a health official. 

“Around 3 am we were informed of a fire incident. After we arrived, we transferred the dead bodies of two children, aged six and ten, [to the hospital]. Another child was also injured with burns,” Saman Nadir, head of Sulaimani’s emergency center, told Rudaw. 

He added that the dead children were sisters and the injured was their brother. 

It is not clear what caused the incident but unconfirmed reports suggest that the family were celebrating New Year before the fire broke out.

Fires are a perennial concern in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. They are especially frequent in the summertime when the scorching heat increases the risks.

Safety standards also are often ignored in the country. Most buildings lack adequate fire extinguishers, evacuation routes, and emergency exits.