Eighty-two people were killed and another 110 were injured in the fire at Ibn Khatib hospital, the interior ministry announced Sunday afternoon.
A problem with the storage of oxygen cylinders caused an explosion that started the fire, medical sources told AFP. The fire spread quickly as “the hospital had no fire protection system and false ceilings allowed the flames to spread to highly flammable products,” civil defence sources told the agency.
The tragedy sparked outrage on social media and the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR) called for the dismissal of the Minister of Health, Hassan al-Tamimi.
“We ask the prime minister to dismiss the minister of health and his agents and to refer them to investigation,” read a statement from the IHCHR, calling for Kadhimi to personally run the health ministry “with an advisory team of Iraqi medical universities and colleges to manage this vital ministry in this difficult situation.”
On Sunday afternoon, Kadhimi’s office announced he had suspended health minister Tamimi, Baghdad Governor Mohammad Jabir al-Atta, and the health director, Abdel Ghani al-Saadi, in Baghdad’s Rasafa district where Ibn Khatib hospital is located.
The three officials are under investigation and Kadhimi has demanded results within five days.
Kadhimi had earlier vowed to hold the responsible parties until “investigations are completed and all those who are legally negligent are held accountable.”
Kadhimi also demanded safety measures be reviewed in hospitals, hotels, and public building across the country.
More than 200 people were rescued from the fire, according to the health ministry.
Iraqi President Barham Salih also called for an immediate investigation and punishment of those who were negligent. The head of the parliament has called for the legislature to convene to discuss the tragedy.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani offered his condolences and said the Region is ready to help.
"The Kurdistan Region is ready to help in any way possible, and our hospitals are open to receive those wounded in the incident and offer them all necessary treatment," Barzani said in a statement.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said he called Kadhimi to share his condolences and "express readiness to receive the wounded."
Diplomats are also sharing messages of sympathy. Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is scheduled to visit Iraq on Sunday, tweeted, “My condolences to the brother state of Iraq, the government, the people, and the families of the victims of the tragic affliction that patients in Ibn al-Khatib Hospital suffered."
The European Union’s ambassador to Iraq Martin Huth also tweeted: “Heartfelt condolences from myself and the entire EU Delegation to the Iraqi people and government after last night’s terrible tragedy at Ibn Khatib hospital in Baghdad. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims.”
The head of the United Nations mission in Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, expressed her "shock and pain at the enormity of the tragic incident" and called for "stronger protection measures to ensure that such a disaster cannot reoccur."
Iraq is in a devastating second wave of coronavirus infections, passing one million cases this week. On Saturday, it registered 6,967 new cases and 43 deaths, bringing the total number of cases up to 1,025,288 and the total deaths to 15,217.
Updated at 3:24 pm
