ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — At least 64 people were killed when fire tore through a hospital for coronavirus patients in Nasiriyah overnight, the second deadly blaze in Iraq’s beleaguered health care sector this year.
Sixty-four people were killed and 50 injured, Dhi Qar health directorate stated on Tuesday morning.
The fire broke out Monday night at Nasiriyah’s al-Hussein hospital. It was "caused by the failure to properly handle oxygen bottles,” said the province’s health directorate spokesperson Ammar al-Zamili. A medical source told AFP that the fire was caused by an exploding oxygen tank in the COVID isolation ward.
On Tuesday morning, desperate family members were searching for their relatives in the charred remains of the hospital ward.
The health directorate declared a state of emergency and Prime Minister Mustafa al-Khadhimi held an emergency meeting with ministers and security officials where they decided to suspend the director of Dhi Qar’s health directorate, the hospital director, and the head of provincial civil defence forces pending an investigation.
President Barham Salih said those responsible through their negligence must be held accountable. The al-Hussein hospital and the April blaze at Baghdad’s Ibn al-Khatib hospital are “the product of persistent corruption and mismanagement that undervalues the lives of Iraqis and prevents reforms of institutions,” he tweeted.
On April 24, an exploding oxygen cylinder sparked a catastrophic fire in Baghdad’s Ibn al-Khatib hospital caring for coronavirus patients, killing around 130 people and led to the suspension of senior officials and the resignation of the health minister.
Speaker of the Iraqi parliament, Mohammad al-Halbousi, tweeted: “The catastrophe of al-Hussein Hospital is clear evidence of the failure to protect the lives of Iraqis, and it is time to put a limit on this catastrophic failure.” Parliament will discuss the incident in its session on Tuesday.
The Kurdistan Region and Iran have both offered their assistance.
“My thought [sic] are with the people of Dhi Qar, and the entire country, for the painful images emerging from the hospital fire,” tweeted Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani. “I’ve instructed the Health Minister to avail our services to the injured.”
"We express our sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the tragic accident at al-Hussein Teaching Hospital in Nasiriyah. We announce the Kurdistan Region's complete readiness for medical assistance," tweeted the Kurdistan Region's presidency.
Iran’s Red Crescent said they are ready “to support Iraq in the fire incident.”
International representatives in Iraq have sent their condolences.
The head of the United Nations mission, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, said "More must be done to ensure all Iraqis can receive care in a safe environment."
EU Ambassador to Iraq Martin Huth expressed his “sadness and despair in the face of this latest disaster.”
Spokesperson for the US-led coalition against the Islamic State group (ISIS) Wayne Marotto said the military alliance sends their condolences “to the families whose loved ones perished” in the fire.
Updated at 11:44 am
