Death toll rises to 92 in blaze at coronavirus ward in Iraq

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By ABDULRAHMAN ZEYAD and SAMYA KULLAB

NASIRIYAH, Iraq (AP) — The death toll from a fire that swept through a hospital coronavirus ward in Iraq climbed to 92 on Tuesday as anguished relatives buried their loved ones and lashed out at the government over the country’s second such disaster in less than three months.

Health officials said scores of others were injured in the blaze that erupted Monday at al-Hussein Teaching Hospital in Nasiriyah.

The tragedy cast a spotlight on what many have decried as widespread negligence and mismanagement in Iraq’s hospitals after decades of war and sanctions.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi convened an emergency meeting and ordered the suspension and arrest of the health director in Dhi Qar provice, the hospital director and the city’s civil defense chief. The government also launched an investigation.



Rescuers and civilians look for bodies after a catastrophic blaze erupted Monday at a coronavirus hospital ward in the al-Hussein Teaching Hospital, in Nasiriyah, Iraq, Tuesday, July 13, 2021. Iraqi medical officials said the death toll from the fire in Nasiriyah had risen to over 60. Two health officials said on Tuesday that more than 100 people were also injured. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-health-fires-coronavirus-pandemic-iraq-df5ccff5aa8bf7fe4c5228e8b48919d9

[Warpy]

1. Horrible.

Bedding, clothing, and equipment saturated with oxygen don't just catch fire, they explode.

I've seen the aftermath of one such fire that was confined to a room after visitors brought a guy cigarettes and matches. Quick action saved his ass but nothing much was left of the room.

This sounds like a terrible accident.