A massive fire at the newly opened Corniche Hypermarket Mall in Kut, Iraq, has claimed at least 61 lives, many of them women and children. The six-story shopping center, which opened just five days prior, was packed with families when the fire broke out late Wednesday.

Authorities say the blaze began on the first floor, possibly caused by an air conditioner explosion, and quickly engulfed the building. Heartbreaking footage showed flames consuming the structure as people were seen trapped on the roof.

Firefighters rescued over 45 individuals, while search teams continued looking for the missing in the charred remains. Ambulances transported victims to local hospitals until 4 a.m., overwhelming medical facilities.

“The tragic fire claimed the lives of 61 innocent citizens, most of whom suffocated in bathrooms,” said the Iraqi interior ministry. Fourteen of the victims remain unidentified. Many survivors recounted the horror of trying to escape the spreading flames.

Dr. Nasir al-Quraishi, who lost five family members, said, “We went to the mall to have dinner and escape the heat. Then the AC exploded, and we couldn’t get out.”

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has called for a full investigation, and Governor Miyahi announced legal action against the mall’s owner and builder. Iraq’s top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, extended condolences.

Iraq has seen repeated tragedies due to lax safety enforcement. The country’s aging infrastructure and soaring summer temperatures contribute to frequent, deadly fires.

Three days of mourning have been declared in response to the devastating loss.