"They didn’t burn or turn into ashes — they couldn't breathe," said one mourner at a mass funeral to remember those killed in a devastating fire in Iraq that ripped through a large Christian wedding party in Iraq late on Tuesday.
Hundreds took to the streets of Iraq’s Nineveh province on Thursday to remember more than 100 people killed in the devastating blaze, which erupted at a wedding party in Al Haitham Hall in northern Iraq.
“They died of suffocation," Marious Addision told The National through tears.
“We don’t want anything from the government. We don’t know how or where to begin to get our justice.”
Authorities said the guests, who numbered over 1,000, sustained injuries caused either by flames, smoke or the crush as people tried to flee the reception hall beneath a partially collapsed ceiling.
During the past two days, people have searched for loved ones, while others rushed to donate blood in overwhelmed hospitals.
"I lost my nephew and sister-in-law today," Hana Abosh Khadir, a teacher in Qaraqosh told The National. "We are waiting to hear about the fate of three others. We have sent their DNA to Baghdad for tests, so now it's a matter of time before we know."
The fire ripped through a large event hall estimated to hold up to 1,200 people, in Qaraqosh town, after sparklers were lit during the celebration and set fire to the ceiling, authorities.
The Thursday morning burial is the second one held since the tragic incident took place.
Nina Issam, 20, who attended the wedding, was at Thursday's funeral. Her aunt was among those buried.
"We speak and no one hears us, where is the government? If we had good governance this would have never happened," said Ms Issam, a residence of Qaraqosh.
"A dozen of us, including my little girl, managed to escape from the kitchen," she said adding that her aunt was found dead last night.
Citizens neglected
Salam Amer lost three members of his family, who were buried on Wednesday night.
"I buried them with my own two hands," he said.
He said his two-year-old son is still missing.
"I have been looking everywhere for him in all the hospitals. I just want to know if he's dead or alive," Mr Amer said.
He said authorities have neglected its citizens.
"There is negligence by the government, the hall was not fully equipped for fires or any disasters," he said. "They don't have any fire exits.
"I want to find my son — who can help me with this? The government? We only see them during elections. We have been burnt to the ground."
Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Mosul Mar Benedict Younan Hanno called for all Iraqis to unite.
"We as Christians, are always wanting the best for everyone, we saw a lot of unity coming out of this tragic event," Mar Hanno told The National.
Everyone must put "aside their religious and ethnics background", he said.
"This is what we saw from our pain, we have hope in our country."
"We need time to heal but we will persevere, we are all in this together and we will face the hardship together as one country."
He said the country must come together to reunite, rebuild and develop and Iraq "is suffering and it needs to heal".
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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The specs
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Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
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MATCH INFO
Kolkata Knight Riders 245/6 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 214/8 (20 ovs)
Kolkata won by 31 runs
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Group 1 (Purebred Arabian) 2000m Dubai Kahayla Classic - $750,000
Group 2 1,600m(Dirt) Godolphin Mile - $750,000
Group 2 3,200m (Turf) Dubai Gold Cup – $750,000
Group 1 1,200m (Turf) Al Quoz Sprint – $1,000,000
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Group 1 2,000m (Dirt) Dubai World Cup– $12,000,000
A Long Way Home by Peter Carey
Faber & Faber
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Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
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- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
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- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
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Company profile
Company: Eighty6
Date started: October 2021
Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Hospitality
Size: 25 employees
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investment: $1 million
Investors: Seed funding, angel investors
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
SHAITTAN
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The%20specs
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 2 (Mahrez 04', Ake 84')
Leicester City 5 (Vardy 37' pen, 54', 58' pen, Maddison 77', Tielemans 88' pen)
Man of the match: Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
