114 dead, wounded in Iraqi hospital fire
ERBIL, KRG, Iraq (North Press) – On Thursday,the Health Department ofDhi Qar governorate announced that the death and wounding toll in the al-Hussein Hospital fire has risen to 114.
“The death toll of the al-Hussein Hospital fire rose to 64 dead and 50 wounded,” the department said in a statement.
At least 41 people died in the COVID-19 isolation ward of al-Hussein Hospital,” an Iraqi health official said, on Monday.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi held an emergency meeting “to find out the causes and repercussions” of the deadly fire in al-Hussein Hospital in Nasiriya city in Dhi Qar governorate, his office said Tuesday morning.
Al-Kadhimi had decided to dismiss Saddam al-Taweel, head of Dhi Qar’s Health Directorate, and the director of the civil defense in the governorate. against the Director of Health of Dhi Qar Saddam al-Taweel, the Director of Civil Defense, Salih al-Hasnawi, and the Director of al-Hussein Teaching Hospital, Maytham Muhammad al-Baka, on the background of the fire.
“The disaster of al-Hussein Hospital in Dhi Qar, and before that, Ibn al-Khatib Hospital in Baghdad, is the product of persistent corruption and mismanagement that underestimates the lives of Iraqis and prevents the reform of institutions’ functioning,” President of Iraq Barham Salih said, on Tuesday.
Salih stressed “the serious investigation and severe accountability for the negligent is the consolation of our martyrs and their families,” noting that the strict review of the of institutions functioning and the protection of citizens is needed urgently.
In April, a fire broke out in Ibn al-Khatib Hospital in the Iraqi capital Baghdad inside a floor dedicated to coronavirus patients.