A wedding day tragedy has hit headlines this week.
People have been shaken up by the tragedy.
One wrote: “Bride and groom need strong therapy and counseling. I’m sending love and prayers to all the families involved.”
Another added: “Such a tragedy! Pyrotechnics need to be handled by professionals with the proper safeties in place …especially if being used in doors. History keeps repeating because of carelessness.”
While a third continued: “Heartbreaking for both of them praying for them.”
More than 100 people died just hours after the wedding.
Haneen and Ravan were slow-dancing at the ceremony.
It took place in Qaracosh, near the city of Mosul.
The pair were enjoying their reception in Iraq when tragedy struck.
“Fireworks started to climb to the ceiling and the whole hall went up in flames.”
“We couldn’t see anything. We were suffocating, we didn’t know how to get out.”
The bride and groom both lost loved ones in the blaze.
Haneen, 18, lost her mother and brother among the 10 family members lost.
Her 27-year-old husband Ravan lost 15 relatives.
It’s not yet known what exactly started the blaze.
Speaking to Sky News, Revan said: “It could be a short-circuit, I don’t know.
“The fire started in the ceiling.”
“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.”
Guests then began to “scream” and “run away”.
There was only one fire extinguisher, which “didn’t work”.
Revan then mourned the “many people. And every day we hear more news.”
He added: “On the wedding night… why did this happen? What did we do? Why did this happen?”
The pair also spoke about the emotional impact of the tragedy.
“Inside we are dead,” he said.
“We are numb. We are dead inside.”
Revan also explained how he saved his new bride from the fire.
He said: “I kept dragging her and trying to get her out of the kitchen entrance. As people were fleeing, people were trampling on her.”
“Her legs are injured. Our relatives, our friends, our loved ones are all gone.”
Revan has also explained the pair will have to move.
“That’s it, we can’t live here anymore. We can’t live here anymore.”
“I mean, every time we try to have some happiness, something tragic happens to us and destroys the happiness.”
“So, it’s best for us to leave,” he concluded.
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al Sudani has spoken out on social media.
Encouraging authorities “to mobilise all efforts to provide relief to those affected by the unfortunate incident”.
Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones during this unimaginable tragedy.
Rest in peace.