Dozens dead in Iraq hotel fire

A fire in northern Iraq caused by a gas leak has left nearly 30 people dead and over 20 wounded.

The fire in the Soma hotel in the centre of the Iraqi city of Sulaimaniya broke on Thursday night at around 10pm local time.

Emergency services report that some of the victims were burnt, while others suffocated. At least three of the victims are thought to have died jumping from the third floor to escape the flames.

The fire raged out of control for several hours and was started by an electrical short, according to the police chief, Brigadier General Najim-al-Din Qadir.

Foreigners from Canada, China and Venezuela were among the dead with some working for overseas oil companies.

Initial reports put the death toll much higher at around 40, but on Friday morning the casualty numbers dropped. Police chiefs blamed the mistake on the 'hospital chaos' that had ensued after the incident.