Fire at Pakistan hospital kills 14 newborns, officials say

At least 14 newborn babies died in a fire at a nursery in a state-run major government hospital in Pakistan’s capital Wednesday, officials said, prompting an emergency investigation by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, BBC reported.

The fire began around 6:45 am at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, where about 15 newborns were in a nursery in the hospital’s gynaecology ward, hospital and rescue officials said. Only one baby was pulled out alive.

Officials said the fire apparently was caused by the explosion of an air-conditioner unit’s compressor but an investigation into the cause was underway.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control, while search teams continued working at the site. Sharif’s office quoted him as calling the deaths an “irreparable loss” and demanding a thorough investigation into the incident. He added that he has instructed officials to bring those responsible to justice. Wednesday’s blaze struck one of the main public sector facilities in Islamabad.