Fire at Christian wedding in Iraq kills over 100

A survivor said the ceiling collapsed and blocked exits. Pic/AP

A raging fire seemingly caused by fireworks set off to celebrate a Christian wedding consumed a hall packed with guests in northern Iraq, more than 100 people and injuring 150 others as authorities warned on Wednesday the death toll could still rise.

Authorities said that flammable building materials also contributed to the latest disaster to hit Iraq's dwindling Christian minority. In the fire's chaotic aftermath, officials offered conflicting death tolls and security officials said they had detained staff at the wedding hall as part of their investigation.

The fire happened in the Hamdaniya area of Iraq's Nineveh province, a predominantly Christian area just outside of the city of Mosul, some 335 km northwest of Baghdad.

There was no official word on the cause of the blaze, but the Kurdish television news channel Rudaw aired footage showing pyrotechnics shooting flames up from the floor of the event and setting a chandelier aflame.

"Flames started falling on us," wedding attendee, Faten Youssef, said. "Things were falling down and blocked the way to the exit." It wasn't immediately clear if the bride and groom were among those hurt in the blaze.

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