For Haneen and Revan, their wedding day was supposed to be the happiest moment of their lives. Instead, it turned into an unimaginable tragedy that will haunt them forever. On the night of their wedding, a devastating fire broke out at the banquet hall in Qaraqosh, Iraq, killing over 100 people and injuring at least 150.
The fire started unexpectedly while the couple danced together, surrounded by friends and family. Revan described the horrifying moment: “We felt the heat… When I heard the crackling, I looked at the ceiling. Then the ceiling, which was all nylon, started to melt. It only took seconds.” The flames spread rapidly, and panic set in as guests scrambled to escape.
Revan and Haneen managed to flee through a kitchen door, but many guests did not survive. Haneen lost 10 relatives in the fire, including her mother and brother. Her father was critically injured. The devastation left the newlyweds and their families forever scarred.
An investigation revealed that the banquet hall’s ceiling was made of highly flammable composite panels, which violated safety regulations. The fire spread so quickly that parts of the building collapsed within minutes. A preliminary investigation suggested that fireworks caused the fire, which led to the roof collapsing on the guests.
اللحظات الاولى لاندلاع النيران في قاعة الأعراس في قضاء الحمدانية في نينوى.#العراق #الحمدانية pic.twitter.com/x2GbZ0sx2R
— العراق برس (@aliraqplus) September 27, 2023
Following the tragedy, 14 people were arrested in connection with the incident, including four individuals involved in setting off the fireworks. The Iraqi government has vowed to hold those responsible accountable and increase safety inspections at public venues.
In the aftermath of this devastating tragedy, the heartbroken couple revealed their unbearable grief. The disaster meant they could no longer stay in their hometown. “That’s it, we can’t live here anymore,” Revan said. “Every time we try to have some happiness, something tragic happens to us and destroys the happiness.”
The trauma has taken a severe toll on Haneen, who has been unable to speak since the event. Revan expressed the depth of their pain: “It’s true that we’re sitting here in front of you alive. But inside we are dead. We are numb. We are dead inside.”
The once joyous occasion has now left Haneen and Revan mourning the loss of their loved ones and unable to ever return to the place that was supposed to mark the start of their new life together. The couple’s pain is immeasurable, and their journey forward will forever be marred by the tragic events of that night.
