Riyadh: King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a cable of condolences to the President of the Republic on Thursday over the victims of the recent fire that broke out in a shopping mall in the city of Kut.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, King Salman and the Crown Prince affirmed the Kingdom's solidarity with the Iraqi government and people, expressing their sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.

The statement came within the framework of a broad wave of Arab and international solidarity expressed by a number of countries and organizations. Arab governments rushed to offer condolences to Iraq, including Jordan, Egypt, and the UAE, along with similar statements issued by the United Nations and humanitarian organizations, expressing their solidarity with Iraq and supporting those affected.

It's worth noting that the fire, which broke out late Wednesday evening inside a shopping mall in central Kut, caused one of the worst civil disasters in the country in recent years. Local calls have been made for transparent investigations and accountability for those responsible for failing to implement safety measures.

The Ministry of Interior announced the formation of a high-level investigative committee, while Minister Abdul Amir Al-Shammari ordered the closure of all sites violating safety regulations in Baghdad and the provinces without exception, warning against leniency in holding negligent individuals accountable in accordance with the law.