Watan – In the wake of a harrowing blaze, Al-Hamdaneya, nestled in Iraq’s Ninawa governorate, confronts its smoldering aftermath. While many were quick to blame fireworks, new evidence paints a different picture.
The shock of the disaster continues to ripple through the Iraqi community. The flames claimed over 100 lives in a bustling Al-Hamdaneya hall, leaving an indelible mark of sorrow.
Initial whispers, amplified by social media and early reports, pointed fingers at fireworks. Yet, Murtada Asaad Al-Shabki, close to the groom, unveiled a chilling twist. He revealed that cooling devices, smoldering unnoticed for hours, were the true culprits. Fireworks may have touched the hall’s ceiling, but it was these silently burning devices that fanned the flames.
In a moving account, Al-Shabki spoke of a moment when someone warned the hall owner about the cooling devices being off, tragically oblivious to the fire they had ignited.
Captured on film consoling the devastated groom, Al-Shabki shared that the hall buzzed with about 1100 guests, reflecting the tight bonds of the local community. In a mysterious turn, the hall owner vanished post-tragedy, leaving a wake of destruction and lingering questions. The inferno deeply scarred the newlyweds, with the bride mourning nine kin and the groom, three.
Recounting the chaos, Al-Shabki described the desperate escape attempts. Some, closer to the exit, made a frantic dash, while others took refuge in restrooms or hid behind tables, praying for a miracle. The hall’s lone entrance and exit only intensified the crisis.
Official records sketch a bleak scenario: 94 lives were lost in the Al-Hamdaneya blaze and 101 were injured, bearing burns and battling suffocation.