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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A building in Erbil province’s Soran administration caught fire late on Friday. At least 14 people were killed and four others were injured, according to the local health directorate.
The building, initially reported to be a university dormitory, houses many lecturers and students of Soran University, but is not a part of the school. The fire, which initial reports indicate was caused by an electrical fault, was quickly extinguished, but many people did not make it out of the building alive.
Fourteen people were killed and four others were injured and are in stable condition, Kamaran Mala Mohammed, head of Soran’s health directorate, told Rudaw’s Andam Jabar. Most of the deaths were caused by smoke inhalation.
“The victims are yet to be identified,” he said.
The building, initially reported to be a university dormitory, houses many lecturers and students of Soran University, but is not a part of the school. The fire, which initial reports indicate was caused by an electrical fault, was quickly extinguished, but many people did not make it out of the building alive.
Fourteen people were killed and four others were injured and are in stable condition, Kamaran Mala Mohammed, head of Soran’s health directorate, told Rudaw’s Andam Jabar. Most of the deaths were caused by smoke inhalation.
“The victims are yet to be identified,” he said.
Civil defence teams rescue people from a burning dorm in Soran administration on Friday.
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) December 8, 2023
At least 14 people were killed in the blaze.
READ MORE: https://t.co/r7tgHZLxAQ pic.twitter.com/GbYqTJPmYY
A source from Soran security forces (Asayish) told Rudaw that five of the dead are from northeast Syria (Rojava).
According to data from the Kurdistan Region Police Directorate, a total of 7,546 fire incidents were recorded across the Region in 2022. Faulty electricity and lack of basic safety measures are part of the problem.
In Hamdaniya, anger still simmers after a tragic blaze at a wedding hall in September killed more than 130 people.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said in a statement that he has spoken with officials in Soran and tasked them to “do everything to support and help the victims.”
He also asked local authorities to carry out a “thorough and serious” investigation into the fire, “the safety measures of the building and other public and private buildings.”
"Catastrophe"
Halgurd Sheikh Najib, the supervisor of Soran administration, told Rudaw that ten men and four women were killed in the fire.
“All the victims died due to smoke inhalation. No one was burnt. The building did have an emergency exit in the back but we do not know why it was not used,” he said.
“This is a great catastrophe,” stated the official.
Sherif Qurtas, president of Soran University, told Rudaw that the building does not belong to the school. He said some of the dead and the injured were lecturers and students of the university, but "this place had no affiliation with Soran University."
Sarkar Surchy, spokesperson for Kurdistan Region’s health ministry, told Rudaw that 14 people were killed and seven others were injured, adding that health workers at Soran’s Ashti Emergency Hospital are providing necessary treatment for the injured.
Kurdistan Region’s top officials and leaders of political parties have expressed their condolences to the families of the dead and wished speedy recovery for the injured.
Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, said in a statement that such incidents are too common.
“Unfortunately, similar incidents have taken place numerous times in recent years. We are in contact with the relevant authorities and we are waiting for the results of the investigations. The shortcoming parties should be legally held accountable.”
Updated at 12:46 am on December 9, 2023
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