Deadly fire rips through shopping centre in Iraq

A fire that tore through a shopping centre in the Iraqi city of Kut has left dozens dead and injured, state media has reported.

The blaze at the mall, which had reportedly opened five days ago, broke out on Wednesday night and has since been brought under control.

"The number of victims has reached about 50 people," Wasit province governor Mohammed al-Miyahi told Iraqi news agency INA.

Most of the victims in the fire were women and children, he said, adding that legal action would be brought against the shopping centre's owner.

Videos show on INA's news channel show flames ripping through several floors of a multi-storey building as firefighters try to douse them.

Other clips circulating on social media appear to show a small number of people on the roof during the fire, as well as the burned out insides of the centre.

Al-Miyahi told local media a number of people had been rescued from the building by firefighters.

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