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2021 Baghdad hospital fire

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365:, sparked anger among the public and led to calls for accountability, including demands for the firing of Hassan al-Timini, the Minister of Health. The governor of Baghdad, Mohammed Jaber, called for the health ministry to establish a commission to bring those responsible to justice. Although several patients were relocated to other hospitals, many families decided to wait outside Ibn al-Khatib after the fire was extinguished, in an attempt to search for their loved ones. 25: 288: 311:
that the accident was caused by "a fault in the storage of oxygen cylinders". A doctor reported that the staff had tried to shut down the hospital's central oxygen system, but the oxygen tanks had already started exploding. The explosions set off a fire in the ICU that spread quickly to multiple
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Al-Kadhimi also ordered the detention of the head of the hospital and the head of its department of engineering and maintenance, as well as the detention and questioning of the health director for the area of Baghdad where the hospital was located. He also suspended the Baghdad governor as well as
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At least 82 people died as a result of the fire. The Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights reported that 28 of the fatalities were COVID-19 patients being treated in wards at the ICU who had to be taken off their ventilators to escape the fire when it had reached their ward. Others had died of
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The ICU, reserved for the most severe cases of COVID-19, had about 30 patients, and dozens of their relatives were visiting at the time. One witness, who was visiting his brother in the hospital, stated that he saw people jumping out of windows to escape the fire.
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Some medical staff, witnesses, and family members who lost their loved ones said that the fire extinguishers were not functional. They criticized the Iraqi healthcare system, which they believe had been subjected to mismanagement for years.
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Health Minister Hassan al-Timini and planned to question them as well. Kadhimi instructed that the investigation be concluded within a period of five days, as well as the submission of a report to the Council of Ministers, according to
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patients. The hospital served one of the poorer neighbourhoods of Baghdad, and a spokesperson for the health ministry stated that it was originally built in the 1950s and was renovated the previous year to treat coronavirus patients.
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reported that the announcement did not stop criticism from those on social media, as Iraqis repeatedly hear of the government declaring investigations but rarely see anyone being held accountable.
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Khadhim Bohan, head of Iraq's Civil Defence, stated that the hospital had neither smoke detectors, nor a sprinkler system, nor fire hoses, and that flammable material used in the
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With a health system already strained by poor infrastructure and the COVID-19 pandemic, the fire, which was attributed to negligence often associated with widespread
344:. According to the pharmaceutical association of Iraq, at least one pharmacist was among the fatalities. At least 110 other people were injured. A reporter for 888: 684: 868: 534: 992: 769: 375:
held an emergency meeting where he ascribed the fire to negligence, and ordered authorities to report the results of an investigation "within 24 hours".
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patients. A lack of fire detection and suppression systems contributed to the spread of the fire, and many died as a result of being taken off their
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floors during the night. At the time of the fire, it was believed that at least 120 patients were in the hospital, a doctor disclosed.
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at the hospital were given respirators to assist breathing, and would have been difficult to transport in the event of a fire.
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stated that the number of fatalities was likely to rise because many of those injured had suffered severe burns.
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Ibn al-Khatib was one of three hospitals in Baghdad that were designated at the beginning of the pandemic by the
229: 206: 706: 632: 1059: 391: 346: 758: 424: 414: 1094: 432:, another fire that broke out in a COVID-19 ward and was exacerbated due to the use of supplemental oxygen 369: 210: 54: 193:, Iraq, left at least 82 people dead and 110 others injured. The fire was started by the explosion of 466: 308: 266:
released a report earlier in 2021 warning of the increased risk of hospital fires due to the use of
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Iraq's Civil Defence stated that the fire was under control by the early morning hours of
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On the night of 24 to 25 April 2021, a fire at the Ibn al-Khatib hospital in
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Several countries worldwide issued condolences to the people of Iraq.
462: 535:"At least 82 die in Baghdad COVID hospital fire - Interior Ministry" 993:"Enraged Relatives Say Neglect Caused Deadly Baghdad Hospital Fire" 869:"Fire from oxygen tank blast in Baghdad COVID-19 hospital kills 82" 307:(ICU) that caused an oxygen tank to explode. Medical sources told 940:"Saudi Arabia sends condolences for victims of Iraq hospital fire" 454: 707:"MSF supports Iraqi hospitals responding to coronavirus COVID-19" 205:
to escape. The disaster led to calls for accountability, and the
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of the ICU contributed to the speed at which the fire spread.
18: 889:"Iraqi hospital fire kills 82, injures more than 100: report" 633:"Fire at Baghdad Covid hospital kills 82, leaves 110 wounded" 240:, and many were reluctant to wear masks during the pandemic. 228:
put a large strain on Iraq. As of April 2021, more than a
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Fire in Baghdad, Iraq started by exploding oxygen tanks
813:"At least 82 killed in massive Baghdad hospital fire" 280: 179: 171: 161: 122: 108: 100: 1026:Relatives say neglect caused Baghdad hospital fire 842:Salim, Mustafa; Loveluck, Louisa (25 April 2021). 759:"Chemical Accident Prevention & Preparedness" 390:On the same day, al-Kadhimi declared a three-day 991:Rasheed, Ahmed; Nazeh, Maher (26 April 2021). 967:"Turkey condoles with Iraq over hospital fire" 230:million cases had been recorded in the country 8: 673:Hassan, Falih; Arraf, Jane (25 April 2021). 91: 90: 668: 666: 664: 662: 660: 658: 656: 654: 529: 527: 498: 496: 494: 492: 490: 488: 486: 303:, an accident occurred in the hospital's 77:Learn how and when to remove this message 292:A hallway of the hospital after the fire 482: 447: 806: 804: 802: 800: 711:Médecins Sans Frontières International 627: 625: 277: 623: 621: 619: 617: 615: 613: 611: 609: 607: 605: 270:in wards treating COVID-19 patients. 209:, Hassan al-Tamimi, was suspended by 7: 811:Tawfeeq, Mohammed (24 April 2021). 772:from the original on 21 April 2021. 576: 574: 572: 570: 568: 566: 564: 562: 560: 558: 965:Alhas, Ali Murat (25 April 2021). 823:from the original on 25 April 2021 687:from the original on 25 April 2021 14: 236:. The public was skeptical about 286: 23: 783:Kullab, Samya (24 April 2021). 45:; articles on events that lack 1: 1023:Reuters Now (27 April 2021). 998:U.S. News & World Report 34:may be excessively based on 1111: 430:Piatra Neamț hospital fire 1070:COVID-19 pandemic in Iraq 1065:April 2021 events in Iraq 285: 232:, more than in any other 96: 420:Matei Balș hospital fire 392:national mourning period 245:Iraqi Ministry of Health 944:Arab News (via Reuters) 425:Nasiriyah hospital fire 415:Gaziantep hospital fire 1090:2021 disasters in Iraq 1085:Hospital fires in Asia 36:contemporary reporting 1080:Explosions in Baghdad 146:33.22417°N 44.51111°E 92:Baghdad hospital fire 467:United Arab Emirates 309:Agence France-Presse 766:European Commission 436:Virar hospital fire 305:intensive care unit 268:supplemental oxygen 264:European Commission 216:the following day. 207:Minister for Health 142: /  93: 1075:Explosions in 2021 1055:2021 fires in Asia 680:The New York Times 509:Al Jazeera English 373:Mustafa al-Kadhimi 214:Mustafa al-Kadhimi 180:Non-fatal injuries 151:33.22417; 44.51111 297: 296: 238:COVID-19 vaccines 226:COVID-19 pandemic 187: 186: 87: 86: 79: 43:secondary sources 41:Please use newer 1102: 1039: 1038: 1036: 1034: 1020: 1014: 1013: 1007: 1005: 988: 982: 981: 979: 977: 962: 956: 955: 953: 951: 936: 930: 929: 927: 925: 910: 904: 903: 901: 899: 885: 879: 878: 865: 859: 858: 856: 854: 839: 833: 832: 830: 828: 808: 795: 794: 790:Associated Press 780: 774: 773: 768:. 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Index

contemporary reporting
secondary sources
lasting impact
merged
redirected
deleted
Learn how and when to remove this message
Baghdad
Iraq
Coordinates
33°13′27″N 44°30′40″E / 33.22417°N 44.51111°E / 33.22417; 44.51111
Fire
Baghdad
oxygen tanks
COVID-19
ventilators
Minister for Health
Prime Minister
Mustafa al-Kadhimi
COVID-19 pandemic
million cases had been recorded in the country
Arab state
COVID-19 vaccines
Iraqi Ministry of Health
COVID-19
intensive care
European Commission
supplemental oxygen
A hallway of the hospital after the fire
intensive care unit

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