Incident Overview
On the evening of September 26, 2023, a wedding celebration at Haitham Royal Wedding Hall in Qaraqosh, Iraq, turned into a tragedy when a fire swiftly consumed the venue. The blaze, which began with a spark from pyrotechnics, led to the hall's collapse, resulting in the deaths of at least 113 attendees, including both the bride’s and groom’s parents, and injuring over 150 others. The rapid spread of the fire left many trapped under debris.
Incident Details
- Time of Occurrence: 10:45 PM, September 26, 2023
- Location: Haitham Royal Wedding Hall, Qaraqosh, Iraq
- Scale of Fire: Rapidly spread throughout the entire hall, causing structural collapse
- Initial Extent of Damage: Total destruction of the hall, significant casualties, and numerous injuries
Incident Response and Challenges
- Initial Response: Local firefighters arrived but were quickly overwhelmed by the fire's intensity and scale.
- Resources Deployed: Emergency services faced delays and challenges due to the venue's remote location.
- Injuries: Over 150 people were injured, suffering from burns, smoke inhalation, and injuries from the collapse.
- Challenges: Inadequate emergency exits, insufficient fire safety equipment, and limited emergency response capabilities exacerbated the situation.
Causes and Contributing Factors
1. Incorrect Use of Sparklers
- Cause of Fire: Indoor pyrotechnics ignited flammable ceiling decorations.
- Contributing Factors: Low ceilings, highly flammable materials, and close proximity of decorations.
2. Overcrowding and Spatial Planning
- Issues: Excessive crowding and poor layout impeded evacuation efforts.
- Impact: Difficulty escaping led to higher casualties and injuries.
- Materials: Highly flammable "sandwich panels" used for cladding.
- Impact: Rapid spread of fire and structural collapse, with toxic gases released.
4. Means of Egress & Emergency Exit Doors
- Issues: Inadequate and blocked emergency exits.
- Impact: Panic and crush injuries as guests struggled to escape.
- Issues: Sudden loss of lighting during the fire.
- Impact: Increased panic and disorientation, complicating escape efforts.
6. Lack of Fire Suppression Systems
- Issues: Absence of sprinkler systems.
- Impact: Unchecked fire spread, exacerbating damage and casualties.
- Issues: Absence of fire alarms to alert guests.
- Impact: Delayed awareness and evacuation, contributing to higher casualties.
8. Inadequate Emergency Response
- Issues: Delayed and insufficient emergency response.
- Impact: Ineffective rescue efforts, worsening the disaster's impact.
9. Venue Was Not Licensed
- Issues: The venue operated without necessary licensing and safety measures.
- Impact: Safety violations contributed to the disaster.
10. Lack of National Building Code
- Issues: Absence of a comprehensive building code and enforcement.
- Impact: Neglect of safety standards led to recurrent disasters.
Lessons Learned
- Safety Measures: The lack of basic safety equipment worsened the fire’s impact, underscoring the need for regular maintenance and preparedness
- Emergency Response: Improved coordination and resource allocation among emergency services are crucial for managing large-scale emergencies effectively.
- Infrastructure and Regulation: Stringent safety standards and regular inspections are essential for buildings hosting large gatherings.
- Training and Drills: Regular training and fire drills for venue staff can enhance response times and effectiveness during emergencies.
- Community Awareness: Educating communities about potential risks and emergency procedures can improve public safety and reduce the impact of similar incidents.
- Resource Allocation: Ensuring fire departments and emergency services have adequate equipment and water supplies is vital for effective firefighting and rescue efforts.
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3 个月Great advice!
NVQ LEVEL 6 IN OH&S PRACTICES | NEBOSH IGC | IOSH (MANAGING SAFELY) HSE Management/ Training
3 个月Good point!
Manager Admin and Regulatory Affairs Engro Elengy and Vopak Terminal
3 个月Such a great loss when a celebration turns in to a mourning. Unfortunately the importance is safety is all across ...May it be home or event management.
Lead Commissioning Engineer LGO HDT, Hydrogen Production Unit
3 个月Great
EHS, Fire & Oil Spill Responder
3 个月Another thing to note here is that the event management staff used flammable substances but did not take any measures to deal with it, which turned a minor incident into a major tragedy. In Pakistan too, such flammable substances are being used without any restraint, which can be a precursor to a major accident at any time.