Newlyweds’ Joy Turns to Grief
Haneen and Revan, a young couple from Iraq, were supposed to be celebrating the happiest day of their lives at their wedding. However, what was meant to be a joyful occasion turned into a nightmare when a devastating inferno engulfed their wedding venue, leaving a trail of death and destruction in its wake. Over 100 guests and loved ones lost their lives, leaving the bride speechless and the groom devastated.
Heartbreaking Losses
In an emotional interview with Sky News, Revan expressed the profound impact of the tragedy on their lives. He shared, “Inside we are dead. We are numb. We are dead inside.” Haneen, just 18 years old, remains in shock and unable to speak after losing ten members of her family. Her father is currently in intensive care in the hospital. The bride herself lost her mother and brother, while the groom mourns the loss of 15 relatives.
The Blaze’s Origins
The cause of the devastating blaze has been a subject of investigation. Initially, it was attributed to indoor fireworks. Revan, however, believes it may have started in the ceiling. He recalled, “It could be a short-circuit, I don’t know. But the fire started in the ceiling. We felt the heat… When I heard the crackling, I looked at the ceiling. Then, the ceiling, which was all nylon, started to melt. It only took seconds.”
Highly Flammable Decorations
Officials from the Iraqi Civil Defense have pointed to the highly flammable building materials as a significant factor in the rapid spread of the fire. Interior Minister Abdel Amir al-Shammari stated, “Using flammable decoration helped the fire to spread quickly and transformed the hall into a fireball.” Revan revealed that there was a sudden power outage just moments before they took to the dance floor. When the lights came back on, fiery embers rained down from above. Haneen, in her voluminous wedding gown, couldn’t escape as fast as needed, but Revan helped her to safety.
Leaving Their Hometown
As the community mourns and holds funerals and prayers for the victims, Haneen and Revan have made a heart-wrenching decision. They have decided that they can no longer live in their hometown. Revan explained, “We can’t live here anymore. I mean every time we try to have some happiness, something tragic happens to us and destroys the happiness. So, we should leave.”
The Town of Hamdaniyah
Their hometown, also known as Hamdaniyah, is home to 26,000 Christians. These Iraqi Christians, who had once been driven from their village by Daesh, now find themselves immersed in a man-made tragedy that could have been prevented.
Public Outcry and Negligence
Public anger has erupted over the high death toll. General Saad Faleh, who heads the commission investigating the tragedy, revealed that 107 lives were lost. The owner of the wedding hall and three staff members allowed 900 people into a venue designed for a maximum of 400.
Civil Defense had previously inspected the site and had ordered the owner to remove the highly flammable ceiling by October. Faleh identified the “main cause” of the fire as fireworks that shot sparks four meters high. These ignited the ceiling’s prefabricated panels and the hall’s decorations.
Shammari explained that the hall’s owner, suspecting a short circuit, cut the electricity, plunging the room into darkness and causing chaos, panic, and a stampede.
Arrests
Security forces have arrested 14 individuals in connection with the tragedy. Four of them, including the venue’s owner, were directly responsible for installing the fireworks that played a significant role in the devastating fire.
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