[Today's Prayer] Shopping Mall Fire Disaster in Iraq···"At Least 60 Dead"

A fire broke out at a shopping mall in eastern Iraq, killing more than 60 people, including women and children.

According to Reuters and other sources on the 17th (local time), the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior announced that at least 61 people died in a fire at a shopping mall in Kut, the capital of Wasit Province in eastern Iraq, the previous night. Most died from asphyxiation, and 14 of the dead bodies have not yet been identified due to burns.

Firefighters who responded to the scene rescued more than 45 people trapped inside the building, but there are still missing people, so there are speculations that the death toll will increase.

The shopping mall, which opened a week ago, is a five-story building with various restaurants and a supermarket.

(Omitted)

Governor Al-Mayyeh Wazit declared a three-day period of mourning and announced that the cause of the fire is being investigated.

Meanwhile, it is known that poor construction standards are often cited as the cause of the fire in Iraq. In 2021, in the hospital fire in Nasiriyah, Dhiqar Province, over 90 people died, and cheap, illegal cladding materials that were highly flammable were identified as a factor in the damage. In 2023, over 100 people died when cheap ceiling panels caught fire at a wedding hall in Hamdaniya, Nineveh Province.

Source: Seoul Economic Daily

O Lord, work for your name’s sake, even though our iniquities testify against us; for our transgressions are many; we have sinned against you (Jer 14:7)

We hear the sad news that over 60 people, including women and children, died in a fire at a shopping mall in eastern Iraq.

While poor construction standards are being pointed out as the cause of the fire, a hospital fire in 2021 killed over 90 people and a wedding hall fire in 2023 killed over 100 people, but the foolish behavior of the Iraqi government that did not change the standards, may the Lord repay them.

May the Iraqi government realize how much the corruption of not valuing life is a sin that takes away the lives of many people and prevents them from hearing the gospel, and please change the law so that Iraqi souls will never lose their lives in such accidents again.

While survivors are still being confirmed, may rescue workers be dispatched to save at least one more person, and may the Iraqi church take the lead in comforting and healing the bereaved families of this accident with the gospel.

May the hope of the eternal kingdom of God be spread to Iraq through those who work for the name of the Lord, and may the global church teach and keep the honesty and truth through Jesus Christ in Iraq.

In this way, may only the Lord Jesus Christ, who has overcome death, come as King in Iraq and rule with righteousness and truth!

May Iraq become a nation that raises up the broken souls of the Arabs and rebuilds the places of worship of the nations!