A fire at the newly opened Corniche Hypermarket in Kut, eastern Iraq, has killed at least 61 people and left many injured or missing.

The blaze, which broke out Wednesday night, trapped dozens inside the five-storey shopping center, with many victims reportedly suffocating in bathrooms.

Firefighters rescued 45 people, and the cause of the fire is still unknown.

The regional governor declared three days of mourning and vowed legal action against the mall’s owner, the BBC has reported.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered an investigation and called for stricter safety measures amid ongoing concerns over poor enforcement of fire regulations in the country.

Written by B.C. Begley