Pakistan hospital fire kills 14 children

A devastating fire erupted in a maternity ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad's capital this morning, claiming the lives of 14 children, according to the Islamabad district office. The blaze ignited on the third floor of the Mother and Child Health Ward within the public hospital, as reported by the district office.

The statement provided no information on the ages of the deceased children or the cause of the fire. Islamabad's chief commissioner, Sohail Ashraf, confirmed on X that rescue teams, specialists, and police arrived at the scene promptly following the emergency call made just before 7 am local time. Ashraf also reported that they successfully controlled the fire.

Fires in large buildings are unfortunately common in Pakistan, often attributed to inadequate safety laws and building codes, as well as lax enforcement. Notably, in January, a shopping center fire in Karachi claimed the lives of over 65 people, while another shopping mall fire in the same city in 2023 resulted in at least 11 deaths.

In 2021, a factory fire in Karachi left at least 16 workers dead, and in 2012, a garment factory fire in Baldia Town claimed the lives of at least 250 laborers, with the building lacking a fire escape.