A huge fire has torn through a commercial building in Iraq’s eastern city of Kut, killing dozens of people, local authorities said Thursday.

Al Jazeera, citing Iraqi News Agency (INA), reported that lawsuits have been filed against the owner of the building and the mall. The governor has ordered a full investigation and promised that the findings will be made public within 48 hours. Following the incident, local authorities have declared three days of mourning across Wasit province.

A massive fire tore through a five-storey shopping mall in eastern Iraq’s al-Kut city, killing at least 60 people and leaving 11 missing. The blaze erupted overnight, trapping shoppers and staff as flames engulfed the building.

The complex had only just opened and legal cases have been opened against its owners. The cause is so far unclear.

KUT, IRAQ: At least 61 people have been killed and many more are missing following a devastating fire that broke out at the newly opened Corniche Hypermarket Mall in the city of Kut, located in the Wasit governorate of eastern Iraq.

A fire engulfed a newly opened shopping center in eastern Iraq, killing more than 60 people, including children, Iraqi officials said Thursday.

A devastating fire at Corniche Hypermarket in al-Kut city, Iraq, resulted in at least 69 deaths and 11 people missing. The blaze, reportedly starting in the perfumes section, trapped many inside the building.