Baghdad’s Covid-19 hospital fire kills 82, leaves 110 injured

In a horrific fire at a Baghdad hospital, at least 82 people died and 110 were wounded. As per media sources, the fire started after an oxygen tank at the Ibn Khatib hospital in the Diyala Bridge area of southeastern Baghdad, Iraq, exploded due to an accident on Sunday night.

The fire burned through the hospital's second floor, and patients' families rushed to rescue their family members. A spokesperson of Iraq’s independent Human Rights Commission informed, "Among the dead were at least 28 patients on ventilators battling severe symptoms of the coronavirus."

Many ambulances were sent to the hospital to help contain the situation and evacuate those who had been injured by the flames. Patients who had not been hurt in the accident were also being discharged from the hospital.

A spokesperson told state television, "We urgently need to review safety measures at all hospitals to prevent such a painful incident from happening in future.”

As outrage grew on social networking sites, the nation's human rights commission urged the prime minister, who has already dismissed many officials, calls are being made by the citizens to sack the Health Minister, Hassan al-Tamimi and to "bring him to justice."

Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Iraq's Prime Minister has announced a national mourning for those who died, pinning the onus of the incident negligence. He also issued officials 24 hours to report on their investigation's findings for the reason behind the incident.

In a statement made by the Prime Minister, he said, “I have directed an immediate investigation to be launched immediately and for the hospital's manager and the heads of security and maintenance to be detained along with all those concerned until we identify those negligent and hold them accountable."