A least 15 infants were killed after a fire broke out at the maternity ward of a hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday.
“A fire broke out on the third floor of the MCH Ward at PIMS Hospital,” the district office of Islamabad said.
Officials said 16 newborns were in the ward at the time, adding that one was rescued.
The fire broke out at around 6:45 a.m. (0145 UTC) when an air conditioning unit exploded inside the nursery, rescuers said.
Investigation underway
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an immediate investigation into the incident.
“A tragedy involving children is an irreparable loss,” he said in a statement.
“Those responsible should be identified, and the strictest action should be taken.”
The incident is one of the deadliest hospital fires in recent memory in Pakistan, where healthcare is subsidized but public hospitals are often are under-resourced and overburdened.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery
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