Baghdad: The Iraqi Ministry of Trade on Thursday denied any affiliation with the "Corniche Hypermarket" building in the city of Kut, Wasit Province, where a tragic incident claimed the lives of several citizens.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, in an official statement, the ministry clarified that 'the building where the incident occurred is in no way affiliated with the Ministry of Trade, nor is it connected to any of its public companies or contracted investors involved in the 'Ta'awon Hypermarket' projects.'

The ministry expressed its condolences to the families of the victims and the people of Wasit, emphasizing that it is closely monitoring the aftermath of the tragic event.

The statement concluded by urging the public to 'refrain from linking successful projects to incidents that are unrelated,' and emphasized the importance of verifying information before circulation.