Fire extinguished at Al-Birikan sports hall in Basra, no casualties reported

BASRA, Iraq — Civil defense teams in Basra have extinguished a fire that broke out at the Al-Birikan sports hall in the Zubair district, with officials reporting no casualties. Brigadier General Mazen Mohammed Lofeta, director of Basra's Civil Defense Directorate, said crews brought the blaze fully under control and prevented flames from spreading to nearby facilities and buildings. Firefighting operations were carried out using modern equipment with support from oil companies and service units operating in the area, he added. Lofeta said the rapid response of the crews and the implementation of the field plan limited the spread of the fire to surrounding areas. He added that forensic teams have begun work to determine the cause of the blaze. No further details on the fire's origin were immediately available.