Three separate fire incidents were reported in the cities of Erbil and Sulaimani on New Year’s Eve, with varying outcomes, according to official statements.

In Sulaimani, a tragic fire in a residential area early Wednesday morning claimed the lives of two children and left another with burn injuries. Saman Nader, the Director of the Sulaimani Emergency Center, confirmed the incident to Kurdistan24. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

In Erbil, the Civil Defense spokesperson, Shakhawan Saeed, reported two unrelated incidents. The first occurred in the Manara neighborhood, where a car caught fire during fuel unloading. The second incident was in Ankawa, where fireworks led to a fire in a room within a residential house. Thankfully, no injuries were reported in either case. Saeed emphasized that Civil Defense teams responded swiftly, preventing further damage.

Meanwhile, the Civil Defense spokesperson in Duhok, Biwar Abdul Aziz, noted that no significant incidents or emergencies were reported in the province during the New Year celebrations.

Authorities have urged residents to exercise caution, particularly during festive events, to prevent similar tragedies in the future.