QARAQOSH — 2023 · Major Tragedy
Qaraqosh Wedding Hall Fire
On the night of 26 September 2023, at a Christian couple's wedding in Qaraqosh (Bakhdida), the seat of Nineveh's Hamdaniya district, indoor fireworks ignited decorations hanging from the ceiling. The hall, clad in banned and highly flammable panels and lacking fire-safety measures, saw its roof collapse within minutes. With guests far beyond capacity, more than 100 people died according to official figures and over 80 were injured. Three days of national mourning were declared, and staff and operators of the venue were detained. In December 2024 the Nineveh Criminal Court sentenced the hall's owner to 10 years in prison.
- Date
- 2023
- Place
- Nineveh, Iraq, Qaraqosh, IQ
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 36.2700, 43.3780 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 26 September 2023Indoor fireworks set the ceiling alight during the wedding.
- 27 September 2023The death toll passed 100; three days of mourning were declared.
- September 2023The owner, staff and fireworks operators were detained.
- 11 December 2024The court sentenced the hall owner to 10 years in prison.
Sources
- Al Arabiya — Iraq wedding hall owner jailed for 10 years english.alarabiya.net ↗
- Kurdistan24 — Al-Haitham hall owner sentenced kurdistan24.net ↗
- Wikipedia — 2023 Qaraqosh wedding fire en.wikipedia.org ↗
- Al Arabiya
- Kurdistan24
- Wikipedia
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.