Baghdad: The death toll from the disaster that erupted in the Coronavirus hospital ward in South Iraq the previous day rose to 58 on Tuesday, Iraqi medical officials said.
Two health officials said that more than 100 people were also injured in a fire that burned the Coronavirus ward at Al-Hussein’s teaching hospital in Nasiriyah City on Monday.
Previously, officials said the fire was caused by electrical short circuit, but had not provided further details.
Other officials said The Blaze erupted when an oxygen cylinder exploded.
Officials spoke with anonymous requirements because they were not authorized to speak to journalists.
The new ward, opened only three months ago, containing 70 beds.
Prime Minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, led an emergency meeting after a fire and ordered the suspension and arrest of health director in the Dhi Qar Province, where Nasiriyah was located, and the Director of the Hospital and Director of the Civil Defense City.
Government investigation was also launched.
It was the second time a big fire killed Coronavirus patients at Iraqi Hospital this year.
At least 82 people died at Ibn Al-Khateb hospital in Baghdad in April, when an oxygen tank exploded, triggered fire.
The incident was brought to a widespread negligence and systemic management error at Iraqi Hospital.
The doctor has criticized weak safety rules, especially around oxygen cylinders.
On Monday, Ammar Al-Zamili, spokesman for the Dhi Qar Health Department, told local media that there were at least 63 patients in the ward when the fire began.
Khalid Bohan’s main general, the head of the Iraqi civil defense, said in comment to the press that the building was built from flammable material and susceptible to fires.
Iraq is in the midst of other severe Covid-19 waves.
The daily coronavirus rate peaked last week at 9,000 new cases.
Iraqi Health Officials: 58 Fire in Coronavirus Ward
