Iraq fire: At least 100 killed in blaze at wedding party in Qaraqosh - BBC News

It is not yet clear what caused the blaze, but reports say it broke out after fireworks were lit.

4 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Social mediaImage caption, Footage showed flaming chunks falling from the ceilingBy Kathryn ArmstrongBBC NewsAt least 100 people have died and 150 others are injured after a fire broke out during a wedding in Iraq's biggest Christian town.

Hundreds were celebrating in a banqueting hall in Qaraqosh in Nineveh province when it happened.

It is not known what started the fire but some reports suggest fireworks set it off.

Flammable panels fuelled the flames, causing parts of the ceiling to catch fire and fall, fire officials said.

"The fire led to the collapse of parts of the hall as a result of the use of highly flammable, low-cost building materials that collapse within minutes when fire breaks out," Iraq's civil defence directorate said, quoted by state news agency INA.

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