Fire has killed at least 82 people in hospital for COVID-19 patients in Iraq

At least 82 people died and 110 were injured after this Saturday on Ibn al Khatib Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq. The authorities have acknowledged that the death toll could increase further.

The explosion of several oxygen tubes set off the fire which killed the victims by suffocation.

In a hospital security camera recording released by the Iraqi press, a group of people are seen chatting in the hallway outside the room where the explosion took place just before it happened, towards hours. 10:20 p.m. on Saturday, local time.

Then screams were heard coming from that room and after a loud explosion inside some of the people in the hallway fled in terror and others managed to kidnap a man in a patient gown. before the hallway begins to walk. with thick smoke.

About twenty firefighting teams were needed to contain and extinguish the flames.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kazemi announced a official mourning for the victims and also ordered to review “the security procedures in all hospitals, hotels and public places in one week” throughout Iraq as well as to examine “every cable in every public place and every hospital”.

He also authorized to protect all victims of the accident to cover the cost of their health treatment and to consider the dead as “martyrs”, according to the official news agency, NINA.

On another side, describes as a “crime” the alleged negligence which caused the explosion and the fire of the hospital dedicated to patients with covid-19. The prime minister demanded the results of the investigations into this tragedy within 24 hours and ordered those responsible to be punished.

“Neglect in these areas is not a simple mistake, but a crime for which all negligent must take responsibility,” Al Kazemi said in a statement issued by his press office after an emergency meeting with several of the his ministers and officials responsible for the security of the country in the early morning.

“Don’t let anyone tell me it was due to a power failure, it’s a shame”He added in reference to one of the first hypotheses that circulated about the cause that caused the bursting of the oxygen tubes.

Meanwhile, dozens of indignant family members and youth demonstrated outside Al Jatib Hospital and other parts of Baghdad on Sunday morning to protest the state of public services, claim responsibility for this tragedy and call the resignation of the Chief of Health, Hasan Mohamed Abas.

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