ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A massive fire broke out in several warehouses in Baghdad on Sunday, injuring several people and prompting an emergency response from firefighters.
The blaze erupted in a multi-story building housing several warehouses in the Iraqi capital, according to Rudaw's Ziyad Ismail. Firefighters rushed to the scene to contain the flames, which remained out of control at the time of reporting.
Rudaw has learned that several people were injured, while others suffered smoke inhalation and received medical treatment at the scene. The cause of the fire has not been officially determined, though a witness told Rudaw that an electrical short circuit may have sparked the blaze.
Fires remain a recurring problem across Iraq, often linked to aging infrastructure, faulty electrical systems, overcrowded facilities, and inadequate fire safety measures.
Iraq's Civil Defense Directorate has stepped up enforcement of safety regulations in recent months. In late May, the directorate said it had referred more than 1,800 establishments to court, closed over 11,000 buildings, and issued thousands of fines for fire safety violations.
Authorities have repeatedly warned of a heightened risk of fire incidents due to non-compliance with safety standards. More than 3,000 fires were recorded across Iraq in the first half of 2025, according to the Civil Defense Directorate.
One of the deadliest such incidents occurred in July 2025, when a fire at a newly opened shopping mall in Kut, the capital of Wasit province, killed 63 people, prompting government investigations and renewed calls for stricter enforcement of fire safety regulations.
