Iraq's Interior Ministry has announced the arrest of 14 individuals in connection with a devastating fire incident that occurred in the Hamdaniya district of Nineveh province. The fire, which erupted during a packed wedding ceremony on Tuesday night, claimed the lives of over a hundred people and left hundreds more injured. The incident has sent shockwaves across the country.

According to the Interior Ministry's statement, those arrested include the owner of the banquet hall and nine members of the venue's staff. Additionally, three individuals involved in igniting the fireworks that led to the tragedy are among those in custody.

Interior Minister Abdul-Amir al-Shammari has pledged to present the findings of the investigations to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani within 72 hours. The goal is to hold those responsible for any negligence accountable for their actions.

The fire tragedy occurred in the Assyrian Christian-majority district of Hamdaniya, located approximately 45 kilometers southeast of Mosul, Iraq's second-largest northern city. In the wake of the incident, funeral processions were held for dozens of the victims in Hamdaniya on Wednesday and Thursday.

Prime Minister Sudani arrived in Hamdaniya on Thursday morning to assess the aftermath of the tragedy. He also visited the injured at the district's al-Jamhuri Hospital, meeting with their families to offer support during this difficult time.

Iraqi Minister of Migration and Displaced Evan Faeq Jabro announced on Thursday that the first batch of injured individuals would be sent to Turkey for medical treatment.

The investigation has revealed that the fire was triggered by fireworks that were directed at a highly-flammable ceiling constructed with a plastic material deemed illegal by the Iraqi government. The Interior Ministry's statement highlighted the lack of safety and security conditions in the banquet hall, which was hosting approximately 900 people at the time of the incident.

Hamdaniya Mayor Issam Bahnam informed Rudaw that the owner of the banquet hall had been previously warned about the flammability of the material used in the building. He was asked to remove it, but the material had not yet been officially prohibited when the building was initially constructed in 2012.

In response to the tragedy, Iraq has declared a three-day mourning period across the country to honor the victims. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has also echoed this call for mourning.

Notably, Iraq has experienced a series of fires during the summer months. In August, Iraq's Civil Defense Directorate reported more than 19,000 fire incidents across all Iraqi provinces, excluding the Kurdistan Region, since the beginning of the year. In 2022, over 32,000 fires were reported, highlighting the ongoing challenge of fire safety in the region. Authorities are now under increased pressure to address these safety concerns and prevent such tragedies in the future.