In a tragic incident, at least 50 were killed and over 67 injured in a fire that broke out in a Covid-19 isolation ward at a hospital in Iraq’s southern city of Nassiriya. Information is that the death toll is likely to rise.
According to media reports, an oxygen tank exploded in the hospital premises and spread to the ward. This Covid-19 ward was started 3 months ago with 70 beds.
After receiving the information, the police and disaster teams went to the spot and took relief measures. The hospital was engulfed in flames as well as dense smoke. Health personnel said it was difficult to bring out the victims trapped in the Covid wards. In April this year, an oxygen tank exploded at a Covid hospital in Baghdad, killing 82 patients and wounding 110 others.
Responding to this incident, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi ordered the suspension and arrest of health and civil defence managers in Nassiriya.
Already annihilated by war and sanctions, the country’s healthcare system has struggled to handle the pandemic crisis, which has killed 17,592 people and infected over 1.4 million.