ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi government on Monday sent the third batch of people who were injured during the catastrophic wedding fire in the country’s northern town of Hamdaniya, abroad for treatment, said a spokesperson.
Over 100 people were killed and hundreds others were injured during the celebration of a Christian couple's wedding on Tuesday. Most of the injured have been receiving treatment in Nineveh, Erbil and Duhok hospitals.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Thursday sent four of the injured to neighboring Turkey for further treatment. Another group was sent on Saturday.
Yehia Rasool, the military spokesperson for Sudani, said in a post on X (previously Twitter) on Monday that the third group, consisting of eight injured and those accompanying them, were sent abroad for treatment, without mentioning the name of the country they were being sent to.
“They were accompanied by a specialized medical team,” said Rasool, adding the government has sent a total of 20 victims of the Hamdaniya tragedy abroad for further treatment.
Iraq on Wednesday announced a three-day mourning period across the country for the victims of the tragic blaze, a call that was soon echoed by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
With hospitals above peak capacity in the town and medical supplies running out, the KRG dispatched several ambulances, as well as emergency medical teams and medical supplies, including much-needed burning ointments to Hamdaniya late into the night.
