At least 14 newborns have died this Wednesday in a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, one of the main public hospitals in Pakistan. The fire affected the neonatal unit located on the third floor of the maternal-infant area and only one of the babies there could be rescued alive.
The fire started around 07:00 hours, local time, when several newborns were still in the unit. Pakistani health authorities have confirmed 14 deaths, while emergency teams managed to save one baby.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, has ordered an immediate investigation to determine how the fire could have occurred and clarify possible negligence. The Government has constituted a committee to analyze what happened in a healthcare center that serves thousands of patients and operates as one of the reference public hospitals in Islamabad.
A failure in the air conditioning, main hypothesis
The first reports place the origin of the fire in the air conditioning system of the neonatal unit. Authorities are considering an initial hypothesis of a failure in one of the air conditioning units, while other reports specifically point to the explosion of the compressor of one of those units.
The investigation must now establish the exact sequence of the fire and determine why it had such serious consequences. Authorities have not yet presented definitive conclusions, so the failure of the air conditioning system must be considered for now the initial hypothesis regarding the origin of the fire.
The fire was concentrated in the neonatal nursery on the third floor of the Gynecology area. Images released from the hospital show damage to the building's windows and the presence of emergency services outside PIMS.
Only one of the newborns could be rescued
There were at least 15 babies when the fire started in the unit. Fourteen died and one could be taken out alive from the affected area.
Rescue teams had to act in a space especially vulnerable because it is a unit intended for newborns. The images broadcast by Pakistani televisions also showed emergency operations through broken windows while trying to access the affected area.
Relatives of the victims have demanded accountability and explanations regarding the existing security measures in the hospital. The evacuation conditions and the fire protection systems are part of the aspects that investigators will need to examine.
The Government orders an immediate investigation
Sharif has requested that the causes of the fire be clarified and responsibilities determined. The Pakistani Executive has launched an inter-institutional investigation committee tasked with preparing its preliminary conclusions within 24 hours.
The federal health minister, Mustafa Kamal, confirmed the toll of at least 14 deceased babies. The President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, has also expressed his condolences to the families after a tragedy that has caused a strong shock in the country.
The authorities have also removed the Secretary of Health, Aslam Ghauri, from his position while the circumstances of the fire are investigated. The affected unit was located in a part of the hospital undergoing renovation, an element that will also be examined to determine if it had any relation to what happened.
The PIMS, one of the major public hospitals in Islamabad
The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences is one of the main public health centers in the Pakistani capital and receives patients from Islamabad and other areas of the country. The magnitude of the tragedy has once again placed the safety conditions of hospital facilities under scrutiny.
The fire has affected precisely one of the areas that require greater protection measures due to the vulnerability of its patients. The authorities have announced a review of fire safety protocols, especially in units designated for newborns.
As the investigation progresses, the official toll remains at 14 deceased newborns and one rescued alive. The investigations will now need to determine if the initially indicated technical failure could have been avoided and if the hospital's prevention and evacuation measures worked correctly.