Fire at six-story Baghdad building injures 10, 25 rescued

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Civil Defense Directorate said a fire broke out on the third floor of a six-story mixed-use building on Baghdad's Karkh side on Wednesday, prompting the evacuation of 25 people. Ten others suffered smoke inhalation injuries and were treated at the scene before being transferred to a hospital, the directorate said in a statement. Civil defense teams responded quickly and fully extinguished the blaze, the statement added. Firefighters, rescue units and special ambulance crews used an advanced ladder vehicle to carry out the operation in the building, which the directorate said violated safety conditions. Injured individuals received first aid and oxygen support on site before being taken to hospital. The directorate said a criminal investigation specialist has been assigned to determine the cause of the fire and that legal proceedings have been launched. The Civil Defense Directorate added that inspections of buildings that do not meet safety requirements would continue in order to prevent similar incidents. No further details were immediately available.