For most couples, a wedding is a joyful beginning, but for Haneen and Revan, their special day became a nightmare that will haunt them forever. The celebration, held in a banquet hall in the Christian town of Qaraqosh in northern Iraq, was attended by nearly 900 guests. The atmosphere was filled with music and laughter as the couple danced, surrounded by their closest friends and family. In a matter of seconds, that joy was violently shattered when a fire erupted, transforming the hall into a scene of chaos and tragedy.
The groom, Revan, recalls the terrifying moment the disaster began. He noticed an intense heat and heard a disturbing crackling sound above them. When he looked up, he saw the ceiling, which was constructed from highly flammable nylon composite panels, starting to melt and catch fire. The blaze spread with astonishing speed, consuming the structure in what felt like mere seconds. Panic immediately gripped the crowd as guests screamed and scrambled for the exits, creating a deadly stampede in the desperate fight for survival.
In the midst of the terror, Revan’s sole focus was on saving his new wife. He grabbed Haneen and began dragging her toward a kitchen entrance, fighting against the tide of fleeing people. In the chaos, she was trampled, sustaining injuries to her legs. While they managed to escape with their lives, many of their loved ones were not as fortunate. The fire and the subsequent collapse of parts of the building led to a devastating loss of life, with over 100 people killed and at least 150 injured.
🔴 اللحظات الاولى لاندلاع النيران في قاعة الأعراس في قضاء الحمدانية في نينوى.#العراق #الحمدانية pic.twitter.com/x2GbZ0sx2R
— العراق برس (@aliraqplus) September 27, 2023
The personal toll on the couple is immeasurable. Haneen lost ten members of her family in the blaze, including her mother and brother. Her father was critically injured. The grief and trauma have been so profound that Haneen has been unable to speak since the event. In a heartbreaking interview, Revan expressed that while they are physically alive, they feel completely numb and dead inside. The pain of losing so many loved ones on a day meant for happiness has left them forever scarred.
In the aftermath, the couple made a painful confession: they can no longer remain in their hometown. Revan explained that every attempt at happiness in Qaraqosh seems to be met with tragedy, and leaving is their only path forward. The disaster has prompted a government crackdown, with arrests made and promises of stricter safety enforcement. But for Haneen and Revan, no justice can erase the memory of a celebration that ended in unimaginable sorrow, a day that marked not a beginning, but an end to the life they once knew.
