14 dead as fire breaks out in Iraqi university dormitory

Erbil: At least 14 people were killed and 18 others injured after a massive fire broke out at a university dormitory near Iraq’s northern city of Erbil on Friday, Reuters reported, citing the head of the local health directorate. The dormitory, where teachers and students were housed, was the scene of the incident. The fire started in a building in Soran, east of Erbil, according to Kamaram Mulla Mohammed, the head of Soran’s health directorate.

Local news agency Rudaw reported that the fire was extinguished later Friday evening after hours of efforts by the fire brigade.

A local Kurdish television reported that a preliminary investigation showed that the fire was caused by an “electrical short circuit.”

Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Autonomous Region, has called for a thorough investigation to determine the causes of the massive fire.

Further details are awaited.