At least 14 newborn babies have died in a devastating fire that swept through the maternity ward of a major hospital in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.
The fire broke out at the mother and child unit of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where 15 newborns were being cared for at the time.
A hospital spokesperson said the blaze began in an air-conditioning unit and was quickly intensified after reaching oxygen connections inside the ward.
Only one of the 15 babies was rescued, according to hospital officials.
Outside the hospital, the disaster turned into a scene of unimaginable grief as families gathered desperately waiting for news about their newborn children. Some relatives were seen crying as the scale of the tragedy became clear.
One grieving father told the BBC that his three-day-old baby was among those who died.
The deaths have prompted an immediate response from Pakistan’s government. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his “deep sorrow” over the tragedy and ordered authorities to investigate how the fire started and why so many newborns were unable to escape.
A special committee has been established to investigate the incident and is expected to submit its report within 24 hours.
Authorities are now expected to determine whether safety procedures, oxygen equipment and the hospital’s emergency response played any role in the loss of the babies.