Couple forced to flee hometown after wedding fire kills over 100 guests
A massive fire during a wedding in Qaraqosh, Iraq left more than 100 dead and 150 injured. The newlyweds, Haneen and Revan, say they can no longer live in the town where their celebration turned to disaster.
What should have been the happiest night of their lives turned into a tragedy for newlyweds Haneen and Revan. During their wedding celebration in Qaraqosh, northern Iraq, a fire swept through the crowded banquet hall, killing over 100 guests and injuring scores more.
How did the fire start?
The fire broke out during the couple’s first dance, surrounded by about 900 guests. It spread quickly through the hall’s ceiling, made from highly flammable materials, according to Iraq’s Civil Defence Directorate.
Though early reports blamed fireworks, groom Revan told Sky News he believes the fire may have started due to a ceiling short circuit. “We felt the heat… the ceiling, which was all nylon, started to melt. It only took seconds,” he said.
Despite previous concerns raised by the groom’s father about fireworks, the venue had assured them that only electric fireworks would be used. However, a preliminary investigation later suggested the pyrotechnics likely sparked the fire, leading to the roof collapsing.
Chaos and escape
As the fire spread, panic gripped the hall. “People began to scream and run,” Revan recalled. “I grabbed my wife and tried to get her out… people were trampling her. Her legs are injured.”
He managed to pull Haneen through the kitchen exit, but the couple’s relief was short-lived. Haneen lost 10 family members, including her mother and brother. Her father was critically injured.
An attendee named Nirvan told reporters, “The fire was sudden and rapidly consumed the ceiling… My wife got injured during the ensuing stampede.”
A faulty fire extinguisher and a lack of emergency exits worsened the situation. Within minutes, parts of the ceiling collapsed.
What happened after the fire?
Iraqi authorities arrested 14 people in connection with the fire, including four linked to the fireworks display. Some have since been released, but Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has promised full accountability and stricter safety enforcement at public venues.
Investigators confirmed the ceiling panels violated building safety codes. These materials, used widely despite being banned in many countries, accelerated the fire’s spread.
“We are dead inside”
Since the fire in 2023, the couple says they’ve been unable to return to their hometown. “We can’t live here anymore,” Revan said. “Every time we try to have some happiness, something tragic happens.”
Haneen has not spoken since the incident. “It’s true that we’re sitting here alive. But inside we are dead,” Revan added.
The fire didn’t just take lives — it shattered the promise of a new beginning. The couple, once full of hope, are now trying to find a way forward far from the place that changed everything.
