What was meant to be the happiest day of Haneen and Revan\u2019s lives turned into a tragedy that will haunt them forever. Their wedding in Qaraqosh, a Christian town in Iraq\u2019s Nineveh province, was attended by around 900 guests when a devastating fire broke out at the banquet hall between 10:00 and 10:45 p.m. The flames erupted as the couple shared their first dance, quickly spreading through the ceiling made of nylon and flammable composite panels. Within seconds, the celebration became chaos. Revan recalled hearing crackling sounds before the ceiling began melting. As guests panicked, people trampled over one another in a desperate attempt to escape. Revan dragged his injured wife through the kitchen door, narrowly saving their lives.<\/p>\n
The fire claimed over 100 lives and left at least 150 others injured. Haneen lost ten family members, including her mother and brother, while her father was critically hurt. The groom\u2019s father had earlier voiced concerns about fireworks being used indoors, but organizers assured him they were electric and safe. When the fire erupted, a single fire extinguisher failed to work, allowing the flames to consume the ceiling and cause parts of the building to collapse. Authorities later confirmed that the hall\u2019s flammable materials violated safety regulations.<\/p>\n