At least 19 people were killed and several others were wounded in a fire incident that broke out at a massage center in Erbil, local media reported.

Governor of Erbil Nawzad Hadi said that 15 of the victims were Filipino nationals.

"14 of them were women and one man," he said. "The other four were Arabs. Three from Iraq's Salahaddin province and one Palestinian."

Head of the Erbil health department said that most of the victims lost their lives from suffocation and less from burning.

According to officials, the fire started in the basement of the building and later spread to the spa area.

At least 10 firefighters were also taken to the hospital for treatment after suffering from intense smoke inhalation.

Source: MENA