Fire at Ministry of Youth and Sports facility in Baghdad extinguished

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A fire broke out at a sports facility belonging to the Ministry of Youth and Sports near Rusafa in eastern Baghdad and was brought under control, the Civil Defense Directorate said. Fire crews responded to the blaze at the complex surrounding the Shaab International Stadium. The fire ignited inside a roughly 1,000-square-meter enclosed hall built of metal zinc panels and used for tennis and football, according to the Civil Defense statement. Teams contained the flames before they spread to surrounding areas, keeping material damage limited. Officials said no casualties or injuries were reported. The Civil Defense Directorate requested that an investigation be opened at the relevant police station and that a criminal investigation specialist be assigned to determine the cause of the fire. No further details on the cause were immediately available.