At least 14 newborns killed in fire at Pakistan hospital maternity ward

A fire broke out early Wednesday in the maternity ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad, one of the country's most prominent state hospitals, killing at least 14 newborn babies, hospital administration confirmed.

Hospital spokesperson Dr Aneeza Jalil told Dawn newspaper that 15 babies were in the ward at the time and that one infant was saved by a doctor. New mothers who had just given birth were forced to flee down several flights of stairs during the evacuation.

Health minister Mustafa Kamal said many of the affected babies had been in incubators or receiving oxygen, and that oxygen canisters in the ward had made the fire worse. He suggested an air conditioner may have sparked the blaze, though investigators remained at the scene and officials had not confirmed a cause. Repair and construction work had been under way at the hospital at the time.

Islamabad's chief commissioner, Sohail Ashraf, said the emergency call came in just before 7am, and rescue and police teams arrived quickly. According to a hospital statement, the fire was brought under control soon after, and surviving infants were immediately moved to the intensive care unit.

Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an immediate investigation, describing the incident as one of the deadliest hospital fires in years and calling the loss of children's lives irreparable. He said those responsible must be identified and face the strictest possible action. President Asif Ali Zardari offered condolences to the families of the victims, calling the deaths heartbreaking.

Fires in large buildings such as factories and shopping malls occur frequently in Pakistan, often blamed on weak safety regulations and poor enforcement of building codes.