Iraq closes over 11,000 buildings over fire safety violations: civil defense

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s Civil Defense Directorate said Sunday that more than 1,800 establishments have been referred to court and over 11,000 buildings closed due to violations of safety regulations.

“Due to violation of safety conditions and civil defense guidelines, until now we have brought 1,885 places and establishments to court,” Nawas Sabah Shakir, head of media and public relations at the Civil Defense Directorate, told Rudaw.

Authorities have warned of a rising risk of fire incidents, citing non-compliance by building owners with safety and precautionary standards.

He added that 11,070 places were also closed due to violations, while 6,008 fines were imposed on establishments that “did not have safety conditions [implemented].”

Shakir said the highest number of violations was recorded in Anbar province with 2,747 cases, followed by Basra with 1,501. In Baghdad’s Rusafa district, 1,398 buildings were also found to be in breach of safety requirements.

Fires remain a persistent threat across Iraq, driven by aging infrastructure, overcrowded public spaces, weak electrical systems, and a widespread lack of basic fire safety measures.

In December, the Civil Defense Directorate said it had shut down around 10,000 commercial and industrial buildings across the country in 2025 for failing to meet fire safety requirements.