Pakistan Hospital Nursery Fire Kills at Least 14 Newborns

At least 14 newborns died Wednesday when a fire swept through a nursery at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad, hospital officials said. One infant was rescued.

The fire at the major government-run hospital in Pakistan’s capital began at around 6:45 a.m. after the compressor of an air conditioning unit exploded, according to hospital and rescue officials. Authorities said the flames were confined to the nursery inside the hospital’s gynecology ward and did not spread to other sections of the medical center.

“One baby was rescued by a doctor,” hospital spokesperson Dr. Aneeza Jalil said. She added that six of the infants’ bodies had been released to their families, with the remaining bodies expected to be handed over soon.

Video from the scene showed devastated relatives overcome with grief as investigators inspected shattered windows and officials moved to cordon off and secure the area.

“I don’t know what to say or whom to blame,” a woman identified by The Associated Press as Mrs. Mohammad Sami said.

“I have lost my child,” she told the outlet, reportedly just three days after giving birth.

The incident prompted Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to remove Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri, the country’s highest civil servant, from office.

Sharif ordered an immediate investigation.

“A tragedy involving children is an irreparable loss,” he said.

Shortly after the incident, Sharif convened a high-level meeting in which he expressed anger at officials for the incident and removed Ghauri.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari also weighed in, offering condolences to the families and saying the deaths amounted to a “heartbreaking and an irreparable loss.”