DUBAI, UAE - Iraq’s Trade Minister Atheer Dawood al-Ghurairi has ordered an urgent investigation into the collapse of a grain storage building at the Al-Shatra silo in Dhi Qar province.

The minister directed the ministry’s deputy for economic affairs to lead the investigation committee, with support from the director general of the commercial and financial oversight department. The silo was taken over by the ministry in 2022.

A video shared on social media earlier Wednesday showed large amounts of wheat spilling from the collapsed structure. The reason for the collapse is still unknown.

Footage circulating across social media shows the partial collapse of a wheat grain storage silo in Iraq’s southern city of Nasiriyah on Wednesday pic.twitter.com/4JfZLrdbPx

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The Trade Ministry said in a statement that “the investigation team began work immediately. The team will gather data and examine the situation and must submit a full report to the minister within 72 hours.”

Ghurairi stressed that legal and administrative action will be taken against anyone found responsible for negligence or technical failure. He said protecting public funds and ensuring vital projects continue is a top priority.

A source from the Grain Trading Company in Dhi Qar told The New Region that no one was hurt in the incident.

The source said the warehouse was storing grain within its limit of 1,500 tons and collapsed suddenly due to internal pressure. He said there were no warning signs or outside factors before the collapse.

The Al-Shatra silo was built for 11 billion dinars. It was completed in 2019 and began operating in 2020. The facility is considered one of the newer grain storage sites in the province.