No fire alarms or sprinklers at Pakistan neonatal unit where fire killed 14, report finds
Summary
A fire in the neonatal unit of a hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, killed 14 newborn babies. An official report found the unit had no fire alarms or sprinklers, escape routes were locked or blocked, and staff had not been trained for emergencies.Key Facts
- The fire occurred on August 26 at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad.
- Fourteen newborns died in the blaze; one baby survived.
- The neonatal unit lacked fire alarms, smoke detectors, and sprinkler systems.
- Escape routes were locked or blocked, making rescue difficult for firefighters.
- The fire likely started from an electrical fault related to the air conditioner's power cable.
- The hospital had not replaced or properly checked the air conditioning units, which were due for upgrade since 2018.
- Staff had not been trained or practiced how to evacuate fragile newborns or how to turn off the oxygen supply in an emergency.
- Firefighters had to break windows to enter the ward during the rescue.
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