Haneen and Revan’s wedding was supposed to be a celebration, but it ended in one of Iraq’s worst tragedies. More than 100 people died and over 150 were injured when a fire tore through their reception hall.
The wedding took place in Qaraqosh, a Christian town in northern Iraq. Nearly 900 guests attended, and the fire began between 10 and 10:45 p.m. while the couple danced together, surrounded by friends and family.
Revan told reporters that he believed the fire started in the ceiling. He said: “It could be a short circuit, I don’t know. But the fire started in the ceiling. We felt the heat… When I heard the crackling, I looked at the ceiling. Then the ceiling, which was all nylon, started to melt. It only took seconds.”
Small fireworks were lit during the dance, followed by a few more moments later. Revan’s father had warned that using fireworks inside could be dangerous, but the hall owners said they were electric and safe to use.
When the flames spread, panic broke out. Guests screamed and ran for their lives. Revan said: “I grabbed my wife and I began to drag her. I kept dragging her and trying to get her out of the kitchen entrance. As people were fleeing, people were trampling on her. Her legs are injured.” He added that only one fire extinguisher was in the hall and it didn’t work.
One guest, Nirvan, said the fire consumed the ceiling almost instantly. His wife was injured while escaping, and he said emergency crews arrived too late to save many people.
The couple managed to flee through a kitchen door, but many of their relatives didn’t survive. Haneen lost 10 family members, including her mother and brother. Her father was left in critical condition.
Officials later said the hall had been built with flammable materials that caused the roof to collapse quickly. Investigators found that fireworks triggered the blaze, which led to the deadly collapse. Authorities arrested 14 people, including those who handled the fireworks, though some were later released.
The prime minister demanded the harshest punishments for anyone found responsible and ordered stricter inspections of public buildings to prevent another disaster.
After losing so many loved ones, the newlyweds said they can’t stay in their hometown. Revan said: “That’s it, we can’t live here anymore. I mean, every time we try to have some happiness, something tragic happens to us and destroys the happiness. So, it’s best for us to leave. It’s true that we’re sitting here in front of you alive. But inside we are dead. We are numb. We are dead inside.”
