Dozens of dead as fire sweeps across Iraq’s COVID hall Coronavirus pandemic News

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Officials fear the death toll could rise as the number of missing patients in the coronavirus isolation department at Nasiriya hospital in the south is missing.

At least 41 people have been killed in a fire in the coronavirus isolation room at an Iraqi hospital, the second deadliest hell in a COVID-19 unit in three months, a health official said.

The fire broke out at the Al-Hussein hospital in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriya late Monday and is still ongoing, according to an AFP reporter.

Haydar al-Zamili, a spokesman for the local health authorities, told AFP that “the fire … has ripped the COVID isolation room apart.”

“The victims were killed by burns and the search continues,” Zamili said, noting that there are fears that the victims will be trapped inside the building. The ward itself has room for 60 patients.

Health sources told Reuters that the death toll could rise as many patients are still missing. Two health workers were said to be among the dead.

Sixteen people have been rescued so far, a medical source said Monday.

Nasiriyah health officials said search operations at al-Hussain coronavirus hospital are continuing after the fire was brought under control, but thick smoke is making it difficult to get into some of the burned neighborhoods.

Videos shared online showed thick clouds of smoke from Al-Hussein Hospital.

Mahmoud Abdelwahed of Al Jazeera reported from Baghdad that civil defense teams were able to hold the hospital fire, citing the Iraqi health authority.

“A lot of people have taken to the streets in front of Nasiriyan and the hospital,” Abdelwahed said, adding that the hospital manager has resigned.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi also declared a state of emergency in the Dhi Qar government in Nashiya, Abdelwahed reported.

In a tweet, al-Kadhimi said his office was holding an emergency meeting to discuss the “causes and consequences” of the incident.

Angry relatives gathered in front of the hospital and clashed with police, setting fire to two police vehicles, a Reuters witness said.

“The alleged officials are responsible for the fire and the killing of innocent patients. Where is my father’s body,” a young man said as he searched among the bodies gathered in a shed in the hospital courtyard.

Earlier on Monday, a small fire broke out at the headquarters of the Ministry of Health in Baghdad, but there were immediate deaths.

The hospital fire is the second tragedy of the year.

In April, fire at COVID-19 hospital in Baghdad 82 people were killed and another 110 were injured in the explosion of poorly stored oxygen cylinders.

Many of the victims were in the respiratory tract to treat COVID-19 and as a result were quickly burned or drowned in hell that spread rapidly in the hospital, where dozens of relatives were visiting patients in the intensive care unit.

The then health minister Hassan al-Tamimi resigned after the April fire.

Iraq has reported more than 1.4 million coronavirus cases and more than 17,000 deaths.