Brazil: 10 killed in hospital fire

By Vakkas Dogantekin

ANKARA (AA) – At least 10 people were killed and scores injured in a fire that engulfed a private hospital in Brazilian city of Rio de Janerio late Thursday night.

Local media reports said that the fire started from a short circuit.

All patients were evacuated and transferred to other medical facilities nearby, amid chaos and nervous waiting.

Television images showed patients on stretchers and wheelchairs, awaiting their turn on streets to be taken to new hospital.

Daughter of one of the intensive-care patients told Globo news that her 77-year-old father had to leave his neurostimulator behind, to escape from the fire.

Local media reported that firefighters were on the scene by 18:00 local time (21:00 GMT). They said the devastating fire was controlled in two hours.

Hospital management said they believe it was caused by a short circuit in a generator. An investigation is under way to find cause and negligence, the management added.