Investigations into the devastating blaze at the wedding in Iraq are underway, with witnesses shedding light on how the tragedy unfolded. According to reports, the fire ignited between 22:00 and 22:45 local time (19:00-19:45 GMT) during the wedding festivities, specifically when several fireworks were ignited.

One eyewitness recounted the horrifying sequence of events, saying, “There were around 1,000 to 1,100 guests. The wedding was going well. During the slow dance, one of the fireworks hit the roof. The ceiling caught fire suddenly and it spread everywhere because it was all made of sandwich panels, vinyl sheets, and fabric.”

The fire rapidly consumed everything in its path, raining down fiery debris on the guests, leaving them trapped with no means of escape. A 17-year-old girl named Rania Waad, who suffered burns on her hand, recalled, “While the bride and groom were dancing, the fireworks started to climb to the ceiling, and the whole hall went up in flames.”

Videos captured during the incident show large fireworks lighting up the hall, with guests seated at long tables nearby, enjoying the festivities and loud music. Moments later, a large ceiling decoration adorned with tassels and lights became engulfed in flames, and the room filled with anguished screams.

Additional footage, filmed from another angle, allegedly shows the bride, groom, and other guests desperately evading burning debris falling onto the dancefloor. The situation worsened when the power went out, plunging the hall into darkness and further complicating rescue efforts.