An Iraqi coronavirus hospital went up in flames late on Monday, leaving at least 42 people dead including two health workers and at least 20 were injured. Located in the Southern city of Nasiriya, the fire reportedly broke out in the covid19 isolation room.

According to Reuters, paramedics were carrying “charred” bodies out of the hospital while many other patients were coughing from smoke inhalation.

As the fire continues to rage, many patients remain trapped inside with rescue teams fighting to reach them in time.

Videos shared online showed thick clouds of smoke hovering around the Imam Al-Hussein hospital.

٤٥ قتيلاً في مستشفى الحسين في ذي قار
كان الله في عون #العراق ???? pic.twitter.com/8eXBnYTo8K

— Israa Alfass || إسراء الفاس (@Israa_Alfass) July 12, 2021

Iraq’s Ministry of Interior said in a brief statement that “civil defense teams are battling the fire accident in the center of Dhi Qar governorate inside Al-Hussein Educational Hospital.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazimi declared a state of emergency in the governorate of Dhi Qar, where Nassiriya is located and in a tweet mentioned he was holding an emergency meeting.

Tweet: “Prime Minister, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Holds an emergency meeting that included a number of ministers, officials and security leaders; In order to find out the causes of the fire incident at Imam Al-Hussein Hospital (peace be upon him) in Dhi Qar Governorate, and to address its repercussions, the meeting came out with the following decisions”

رئيس مجلس الوزراء القائد العام للقوات المسلحة @MAKadhimi يعقد اجتماعاً طارئاً ضم عدداً من الوزراء والمسؤولين والقيادات الأمنية؛ وذلك للوقوف على أسباب حادثة حريق مستشفى الإمام الحسين (ع) في محافظة ذي قار، ومعالجة تداعياتها، وقد خرج الاجتماع بالقرارات الآتية: pic.twitter.com/dgAQdj0iEq

— المكتب الإعلامي لرئيس الوزراء ???????? (@IraqiPMO) July 12, 2021

An oxygen tank explosion in the hospitals covid19 isolation ward is believed to have caused the fire.

The death toll could rise as there are a number of patients unaccounted for at this stage. Sixteen people have been rescued so far, but the ward could take up to 60 patients.

Iraq’s healthcare system is under severe pressure and with the added pressures of war and the Covid19 pandemic, they are just getting by. The country has seen 1 438 million cases of coronavirus with around 17 500 deaths.

This is the second fire of this nature in a space of a few short months. In April, a fire at a Baghdad COVID-19 hospital caused by the explosion of badly stored oxygen cylinders killed a staggering 82 people and injured 110 others.

Relatives gathered in front of the hospital and scenes of violence erupted with police as two police vehicles were set alight writes Reuters.

This is a developing story.

By Naadiya Adams