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At least 14 babies killed in Pakistan hospital nursery fire
Al Jazeera • • general
Key Points:
- A fire broke out in the nursery of the Mother and Child Centre at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad, killing at least 14 newborns, with some reports citing 15 deaths.
- The blaze started shortly before 7am local time and was likely caused by a short circuit in a malfunctioning air conditioning unit, according to rescue sources.
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences to the families, ordered an immediate investigation, and vowed strict action against those responsible.
- Hospital fires are a recurring issue in Pakistan due to poor enforcement of safety regulations, with the healthcare sector suffering from underfunding, mismanagement, and overcrowding.
- This incident is among the deadliest hospital fires in Pakistan's history, following recent deadly fires such as the one in a Karachi shopping complex in January that killed at least 65 people.
