100 killed in wedding hall fire in Iraq

At least 100 people were killed and more than 150 were injured in a major fire at a wedding celebration in the district of Hamdaniya in Iraq's Nineveh province,

According to the media reports, the fire which started early on Wednesday morning, completely gutted the venue.

Te reports said that the death toll was expected to rise as several people were still missing. Many of the injured were stated to be in a critical condition.

Reports said that the fire ripped through a large events hall in the north-eastern region shortly after the fireworks were lit during the celebration.

Local civil defence said that the fire might have been caused by the fireworks. ‘’We are investigating the incident,’’ said an official.

The officials ruled out foul play.

Video from the site showed fire fighters clambering over the charred wreckage of the building in search of survivors. They also showed people running here and there looking for safer place.

Preliminary information indicated that the building was made of highly flammable construction materials, contributing to its rapid collapse, state media said.

Ambulances and medical crews were dispatched to the site by federal Iraqi authorities and authorities in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, according to official statements.