Work to identify those who died in the fire that broke out in a shopping center in Iraq is ongoing.
63 people died in the fire and 18 of the bodies are so severely burned that they cannot be identified without the help of DNA tests, says an anonymous official to the news agency AP.
According to local authorities, there are children among the dead.
The fire in al-Kut in eastern Iraq broke out late on Wednesday, according to provincial governor Mohammed al-Miyahi, who has declared three days of mourning in the province. In unverified videos on social media, the building is seen being engulfed by intense flames while sirens wail incessantly.
The cause of the fire is not yet clear, but officials point to poor safety standards in the building.
