{
  "id": 3465354,
  "title": "Pakistan hospital fire kills at least 15 babies",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/pakistan-hospital-fire-kills-at-least-15-babies-3465354",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-26T04:53:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/asia/2026/08/26/pakistan-hospital-fire-kills-at-least-15-babies/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "At least 15 newborns perished in a fire at a state-run hospital in Islamabad on Wednesday, according to local media. The blaze occurred early Wednesday morning, around 7am, at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital. Sixteen infants were present in the maternity ward when the fire erupted, with Geo TV reporting that one baby was rescued. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed an immediate investigation into the incident. Local media sources have blamed the fire on a faulty air conditioning system, which has been a recurring issue at state-run facilities. This fire marks one of the deadliest hospital fires in recent years in Pakistan. Government healthcare is subsidized but often suffers from under-resourcing and overcrowding, leading to frequent criticism from watchdogs for mismanagement. Prime Minister Sharif's office stated that those responsible should be identified and strict action taken. The maternity ward was cordoned off, and ambulances were seen outside the hospital, as per a Reuters witness. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was briefly treated at the hospital last week, did not provide immediate comment on the tragedy. The PIMS hospital is one of the main public hospitals in Islamabad, which has a population of approximately 1.1 million people.",
  "summary": "At least 15 babies died in a fire on Wednesday at a state-run hospital in Islamabad that was triggered by faulty air conditioning, local media reported. Sixteen newborns were in the maternity ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences hospital when the fire broke out at around 7am local time, local broadcaster Geo TV reported. One of the babies was rescued, it added. Pakistan's Prime…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Pakistan hospital fire kills at least 15 babies",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/pakistan-hospital-fire-kills-at-least-15-babies",
        "published": "2026-08-26T04:53:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Fire kills 14 newborns at major hospital in Pakistan, officials say",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/fire-kills-14-newborns-at-major-hospital-in-pakistan-officials-say",
        "published": "2026-08-26T06:19:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NPR",
        "title": "Hospital nursery fire kills 14 newborns in Pakistan's capital, officials order immediate inquiry",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/hospital-nursery-fire-kills-14-newborns-in-pakistans-capital",
        "published": "2026-08-26T07:34:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBC News",
        "title": "Fire in Pakistan hospital kills 14 newborns, officials order immediate inquiry",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/fire-in-pakistan-hospital-kills-14-newborns-officials-order-immediate",
        "published": "2026-08-26T08:49:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}