The wedding day is often the happiest day of a couple’s lives. However, Haneen and Revan’s special day became an unthinkable nightmare that will always follow them.

Tragic events occurred at a banquet hall in Qaraqosh, a Christian town in the Nineveh province of northern Iraq, on the eve of their wedding, which was attended by about 900 guests.

As the couple danced together in front of friends and family, the fire started without warning. What ought to have been a happy occasion swiftly descended into mayhem and heartache.

Between 10:00 and 10:45 p.m., the fire broke out and quickly spread through the hall’s ceiling. We sensed the heat. In an interview with Sky News, Revan described the terrifying experience, saying, “When I heard the crackling, I looked at the ceiling.” At that point, the nylon ceiling began to melt. Only a few seconds were needed.

Revan thinks the fire started in the ceiling, possibly as a result of an electrical short circuit, despite reports at first indicating it might have been started by fireworks. I’m not sure, but it might be a short circuit. However, the ceiling was where the fire began.

Panic struck as the fire spread. “People started to scream and flee,” Revan said, describing the horrific scene. I took hold of my wife and started pulling her. I persisted in pulling her and attempting to remove her from the kitchen doorway. People were trampling on her as they ran away. She has injuries to her legs.

During the wedding preparations, the groom’s father had issued a warning regarding the possible dangers of fireworks, voicing worries that sparks might fall on the couple or guests. He was reassured by the venue’s owners, though, that the fireworks were harmless and electric.

Things quickly got out of hand when the fire started. There was only one fire extinguisher available, but it was ineffective. One attendee who was able to escape, Nirvan, described the fire as “sudden and quickly consumed the ceiling almost completely.” “My wife was hurt in the subsequent stampede.”

Revan and Haneen tried desperately to escape, but they were able to get out through a kitchen door. Unfortunately, though, a large number of visitors perished. At least 150 people were hurt, and more than 100 people lost their lives. In the fire, Haneen lost ten family members, including her brother and mother. Her father suffered serious injuries. The newlyweds and their families were permanently damaged by the destruction.

Later, the Civil Defence Directorate disclosed that the banquet hall’s ceiling was composed of composite panels that were extremely flammable, in violation of safety regulations. Within minutes, portions of the building collapsed due to the rapid spread of the fire.

According to an initial investigation, the fire was started by fireworks, which caused the roof to collapse on the visitors.

Four people involved in setting off the fireworks were among the 14 people arrested in connection with the incident after the tragedy. Although the Iraqi government is committed to holding those responsible accountable, some have since been freed. Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, the prime minister, promised to impose the strictest sanctions and expand safety checks at public spaces.

Following this tragic event, the devastated couple disclosed their indescribable sorrow. They were forced to leave their hometown due to the disaster.

Revan told Sky News, “That’s it, we can’t live here anymore.” “Whenever we attempt to experience some happiness, a tragic event occurs and ruins the joy. Therefore, it would be best if we left.

Haneen has suffered greatly from the trauma and has been unable to speak since the incident in 2023.

We are indeed alive and seated in front of you. However, we are dead inside. We’re numb. With the weight of their loss bearing down on his words, Revan said, “We are dead inside.”

In addition to grieving the loss of their loved ones, Haneen and Revan are now unable to visit the location that was meant to be the beginning of their new life together. The couple is in excruciating pain, and the terrible things that happened that night will always be a part of their future.

Inexplicably cruel things can happen in life. The terrible suffering endured by the couple is beyond my comprehension. One of the saddest things I’ve ever heard of is this.

This tragedy demonstrates why it’s really not a good idea to light fireworks inside of buildings. To be honest, I’ve never witnessed someone in such agony.

I wish there was something I could do to lessen her suffering because I feel so bad for her. Even though what she is going through is unfathomable, all we can do at this point is hope she finds the strength to recover.