At least 14 babies die in Pakistan hospital fire
The fire broke out in an air conditioning unit at the mother and child unit in one of Islamabad's main hospitals.
A fire at a maternity ward in Pakistan's Islamabad killed at least 14 newborn babies, according to hospital officials. The blaze broke out on the third floor of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital, a major state-run facility in the capital city. An air conditioning unit was the suspected source of the fire, which claimed the lives of 14 of the 15 infants in the ward at the time, leaving seven other babies, two men, and ten mothers unharmed.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal confirmed that the babies were in incubators or on oxygen equipment, emphasizing that oxygen can accelerate a fire, causing materials to burn more intensely. Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, suspended the Federal Secretary of Health, Aslam Ghauri, and convened a high-level meeting to address the incident.
Families identified their deceased children through wristbands or by age, with some babies as young as three hours old. Eyewitnesses recounted harrowing scenes, citing slow response times from rescuers amidst thick smoke and broken glass. Prime Minister Sharif expressed deep sorrow and ordered an immediate investigation, while a fact-finding committee was established to report back within 24 hours.
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