More than 600 Shia pilgrims in Iraq were briefly hospitalised with respiratory problems after inhaling chlorine gas from a leak at a water treatment station, authorities reported on Sunday, August 10, 2025.
The incident occurred overnight on the route between the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, a key pilgrimage path for millions of Shia Muslims marking Arbaeen, the 40-day mourning period commemorating the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
Iraq’s Ministry of Health reported 621 cases of asphyxia caused by the chlorine leak, stating, “All have received the necessary care and left hospital in good health.”
Security forces attributed the incident to a malfunction at a water station on the Karbala-Najaf road.
The leak caused widespread panic among pilgrims, who were promptly evacuated and treated at nearby medical facilities.
The Arbaeen pilgrimage draws millions annually to Karbala, home to the shrines of Imam Hussein and his brother Abbas.
This year’s event, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, was marred by the incident, highlighting ongoing challenges with Iraq’s aging infrastructure.
Decades of conflict, corruption, and neglect have left many public facilities, including water treatment plants, in disrepair, with lax safety standards contributing to such incidents.
The chlorine gas leak follows a pattern of public safety hazards in Iraq.
In July 2025, a massive fire at a shopping mall in Kut killed over 60 people, many succumbing to suffocation.
Authorities have vowed to investigate the latest incident and address safety lapses at the water treatment facility.
Pilgrims and local leaders expressed relief that no fatalities were reported, but the incident has sparked calls for improved infrastructure and stricter safety protocols to protect worshippers during major religious events.
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