They were hospitalized in therapy with coronavirus, an oxygen tube exploded and they died

Nine coronavirus patients died today from a fire at a hospital in Gaziantep, southeastern Turkey, the health minister said.

The incident occurred in the intensive care unit for Covid-19 patients at the health center and was caused by the explosion of an oxygen tube from a life support ventilator.

The other patients affected by the fire were transferred to other hospitals in the region.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic event,” said Turkish Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca, quoted by AFP.

Turkey has recorded more than 1.9 million cases of coronavirus and around 17,600 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

In late November, due to the increase in the number of people infected, the country tightened restrictions with the introduction of a full and partial curfew on weekends.