A bride and groom shared a heart-wrenching confession after their wedding took a tragic turn.
A couple’s wedding day is typically one of the happiest moments of their lives, but for Haneen and Revan, their celebration turned into a nightmare. The tragic event resulted in the loss of over 100 lives and left at least 150 others injured.
In the aftermath of the devastating disaster, the newlyweds have spoken to the press.
Haneen and Revan’s wedding day took a devastating turn when a fire broke out during their ceremony at a banqueting hall in the Christian town of Qaraqosh, located in the Nineveh province of northern Iraq.
The event, attended by approximately 900 guests, was interrupted between 10 and 10:45 p.m., as the newlyweds were dancing while people gathered around to watch.
Initial reports suggested that the fire may have been caused by fireworks, but groom Revan believes the flames originated from the ceiling. Speaking to Sky News, he said, “It could be a short circuit, I don’t know. But 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,” Revan recalled. The terrifying speed of the fire’s spread left little time for anyone to react, amplifying the chaos and horror of the situation.
Revan explained that two small fireworks were lit as the couple began dancing, followed by four more a few moments later.
During the wedding’s planning stages, the groom’s father had voiced concerns about the potential risks of using fireworks in the venue, but the celebration proceeded despite those warnings.
He was concerned that firework sparks could land on the bride and groom and “catch fire,” but the hall’s owners reportedly reassured them, claiming the fireworks were electric and safe, stating that “you could put your hand or even plastic on it and it won’t burn.”
However, when the fire broke out, panic spread quickly. Those in attendance began to “scream” and “run away” in a desperate attempt to escape the growing flames.
Revan recounted, “I grabbed my wife and began to drag her. I kept dragging her and trying to get her out through the kitchen entrance. As people were fleeing, they trampled on her. Her legs are injured.” The chaos of the situation left the newlyweds struggling to escape, with Revan desperately trying to protect his wife from the crushing panic around them.
Revan alleges that there was only one fire extinguisher in the event hall, and it “didn’t work” when it was needed most.
Attendee Nirvan, who managed to escape, shared his experience with The Media Line: “The fire was sudden and rapidly consumed the ceiling almost completely. My wife got injured during the ensuing stampede. Civil Defense arrived over half an hour late and couldn’t handle all the wounded.” The delay in emergency response added to the horror of the situation, leaving many victims without immediate help.
The newlyweds reportedly managed to escape the fire by fleeing through a kitchen door, but tragically, many of their loved ones did not survive.
Bride Haneen lost 10 of her relatives in the devastating fire, including her mother and brother. Her father was also in critical condition, further deepening the family’s grief during an already heartbreaking time.
The Civil Defence Directorate informed the Iraqi News Agency that the banquet hall was covered with highly flammable composite panels, a detail that would violate safety regulations. This discovery raised further questions about the venue’s safety measures and the conditions that contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
The directorate stated (according to The Independent): “The fire led to the collapse of parts of the hall as a result of the use of highly flammable, low-cost building materials that collapse within minutes when the fire breaks out.”
Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari reported that a preliminary investigation determined the blaze was “caused by fireworks, which led to the roof burning heavily and collapsing on the citizens,” as reported by INA.
According to the BBC, 14 people were arrested following the fire, including four individuals involved in setting off the fireworks. Some of those arrested have since been released.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani called for “the toughest punishments permitted by law for those responsible for negligence or failings that led to this tragic fire.”
He also ordered relevant authorities to intensify building inspections and verify safety procedures at public venues, including shopping centers, restaurants, and hotels, to prevent such disasters in the future.
The heartbroken couple, who were forced to bury their family and friends, including young children, told Sky News they can no longer live in their hometown. The tragedy has left them deeply shaken, and the emotional toll has made it impossible for them to stay in the place where they once celebrated their joy.
Haneen has been so deeply affected by the events of September 2023 that she’s been unable to speak.
Revan expressed the overwhelming grief they feel, saying, “That’s it, 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 added, “It’s true that we’re sitting here in front of you alive. But inside we are dead. We are numb. We are dead inside.” Their words reflect the emotional devastation that the tragedy has left on their lives.
