Iraqi authorities on Saturday announced the arrest of six local officials and the temporary suspension of several employees in connection with a devastating fire that killed 61 people at a shopping mall in the city of Kut earlier this week.

In a statement, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior cited “clear negligence” by multiple government departments and staff members, which it said contributed to the scale of the disaster and the high number of casualties, according to AFP.

The blaze broke out late Wednesday in the five-story “Corniche Hypermarket” building, located in Kut, approximately 160 kilometers southeast of the capital, Baghdad.

Civil defense teams continue to investigate the cause of the fire, as public calls grow for accountability and stricter enforcement of safety standards in commercial facilities.