50 killed in massive fire in Iraq’s COVID-19 hospital

A painful accident has occurred at a COVID-19 hospital in Nasiriyah, Iraq. A massive fire broke out in this hospital, killing 50 people and injuring many others. This news has been given to the media quoting health officials and police. At least 50 people have died at the hospital in Nasiriya city and others are in critical condition, officials said. The people who died were badly burnt. He said the fire was caused by an electric short circuit. Another official said the fire was caused by an oxygen cylinder burst. The Health Ministry has not said anything about the cause of the fire. Two medical officials said that this ward in the hospital was opened three months ago and had 70 beds.

Health department spokesman Ammar al-Jamili said at least 63 patients were inside the ward when the fire broke out. This is the second incident of fire at a hospital in Iraq this year. Earlier in April, at least 82 people were killed when an oxygen tank exploded in a hospital in Baghdad.

A reporter present at the scene said health workers pulled bodies out of the burning hospital while several patients were coughing under the smoke.
Nasiriya health officials said relief and rescue operations were underway at Al-Hussein Corona Virus Hospital after the fire was brought under control, but thick smoke made it difficult to enter some wards. Preliminary police report states that the fire was caused by an oxygen tank burst inside the Kovid 19 wards of the hospital. Ali Muhsin, a guard of the hospital, said that I heard a big explosion inside the Kovid ward and then the fire started very fast.