Hospital fire kills 11 babies in Iraqi capital

By Ibrahim Salih

BAGHDAD (AA) – Eleven newborn babies were killed on Wednesday in a fire that broke out at a hospital in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, the Iraqi Health Ministry said.

Ministry spokesman Ahmed al-Redini said the fire at the Yarmouk hospital was caused by electric fault.

“Twenty-eight women and seven babies were evacuated to other hospitals,” he said.

A hospital source said an oxygen tube exploded due to the flames, causing the fatalities.

“More than ten babies were also injured in the blaze,” he said.

Al-Redini said that civil defense teams have managed to extinguish the fire.