At least 14 newborn babies have died after a fire broke out at the nursery of a government hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, officials said.
The fire started shortly before 7:00 am local time on Wednesday on the third floor of the Mother and Child Centre at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital.
Local broadcaster Geo TV reported that the death toll had risen to 15, adding that one infant was rescued from the nursery before firefighters brought the blaze under control.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences to the victims’ families and ordered an immediate investigation into the incident.
In a statement on X, Sharif vowed that anyone found responsible would face the “strictest action”.
Preliminary findings indicated that the fire may have been caused by a short circuit involving a faulty air conditioning unit, officials said.
Hospital and building fires are common in Pakistan, where safety regulations and building codes are often poorly enforced.
In January, at least 65 people were killed when fire engulfed a crowded shopping complex in Karachi.
The latest incident is one of the deadliest hospital fires recorded in Pakistan.
Public hospitals across the country provide subsidised healthcare but often face challenges including inadequate funding, overcrowding and poor management.
AFP
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