State media said that a fire through a shopping center through a shopping center in Iraqi city Kut has released dozens of people.
The explosion in the mall, which was allegedly opened five days ago, broke on Wednesday night and was brought under control since then.
Medical officials quoted by news agency AFP said 55 people died in fire, rescue teams are still looking for missing people.
Regional governor Mohammad al-Mahihi said, “A tragedy and a disaster have impressed us.”
In the video of the INA news channel, flames appear through several floors of a multi-storey building, as firefighters tried to sink them.
Other clips roaming on social media show a small number of people on the roof during the fire, as well as the burnt inside of the center.
Many people were rescued from the building by firefighters, Al-Miahi told the local media.
The ambulances were still casualties in the city hospitals, which are about 160 km (100 mi) in the south -east of Baghdad at the local time.
The missing victims continue to search.
In the 50s, a doctor Nasir al-Qurashi told AFP that he lost five family members in Blaze.
“An disaster has understood us,” he said. “We went to the mall to have some food, eat dinner and avoid power cuts at home.
“An air conditioner exploded on the other floor and then the fire erupted and we could not escape from it.”
A medical source told the agency: “We have more than 50 martyrs, and many unknown bodies”.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, with the expectation of initial conclusions within two days, Al-Miahi said.
He said, “The tragedy is a major setback,” he said that “there would be a serious review of all security measures”.
The AFP reported that the purchase took place five days ago.
It is designated by the local media as the Cornish Hypermarket Mall at the center of the Kut.
