Summary
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At least fourteen newborns have died after a fire broke out at a hospital’s maternity ward in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad
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Rescue teams have said the fire is now under control and those injured have been taken to the ICU, says our correspondent who is on the scene
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One newborn has been rescued, a hospital spokesperson confirmed to the BBC
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The fire broke out on the third floor of the mother and child unit in PIMS hospital, one of the main state-run hospitals in the city
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First images from the scenepublished at 06:02 BST
We’re now getting the first images from the hospital in Islamabad, where 14 newborns have died in a fire.
Authorities say the blaze has been extinguished.
Image source, ReutersImage caption, An ambulance is parked at the entrance of the hospital in Islamabad
Image source, ReutersImage caption, Hospital staff look through shattered glass windows
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Pakistan PM expresses ‘deep sorrow’published at 05:59 BST
Image source, EPAPakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has released a statement expressing “deep sorrow and heartfelt regret” over the hospital fire.
Sharif has instructed authorities to “conduct an immediate investigation”, according to the statement from his office.
“Such a situation with children is irreparable”, the statement continues.
Sharif expresses his “heartfelt condolences to the families of the innocent children”, adding “his heart is saddened by this tragic incident”.
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Rescue teams say fire now under controlpublished at 05:50 BST
Carrie Davies
BBC Pakistan correspondentAt least 14 children have died after a fire at a maternity unit in a hospital in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad.
Rescue teams have said the fire is now under control and those injured taken to the ICU.
The fire broke out on the third floor of the mother and child unit of PIMS hospital, one of the main state-run hospitals in the city.
According to their spokesperson, 15 newborn babies were in the ward at the time.
TV satellite vans now line the outside of the hospital’s perimeter, waiting for news.
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Fourteen newborns die in fire, one rescuedpublished at 05:44 BST
BreakingFourteen newborns have died in the fire, PIMS spokesperson Dr Aneeza Jalil has confirmed to the BBC.
One newborn was rescued, Jalil adds.
The hospital will release a statement soon, she says.
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At least 19 rescued from Islamabad hospitalpublished at 05:39 BST
Emergency responders say they have rescued at least 19 people from the hospital.
They include 10 women, seven children and two men.
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Where did the fire happen?published at 05:35 BST
The PIMS is one of the biggest hospitals in Pakistan’s capital.
The hospital has 156 beds in its maternal and child health (MCH) unit, according to its website.
Initial reports say the fire hit the MCH ward, on the hospital’s third floor.
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Fire breaks out at hospital in Islamabadpublished at 05:34 BST
BreakingA fire has broken out in the neonatal ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad and several infants are feared to have died.
Pakistani authorities have dispatched fire trucks, ambulances and emergency responders to the scene.
We will bring you updates on this breaking story as we get them.
Original source: https://www.bbc.com/
