PM Barzani extends condolences, offers aid to victims of Nasiriyah fire

Halgurd Sherwani 2021/07/13 11:31

People gather at the ravaged coronavirus isolation ward of Al-Hussein hospital after a massive fire overnight, in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah, on July 13, 2021. (Photo: Asaad Niaza/AFP)

Kurdistan Iraq Nasiriyah Fire Krg Masrour Barzani COVID-19

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Tuesday offered condolences to the victims of a deadly fire at a COVID-19 treatment center in southern Iraq and said the Kurdistan Regional Government was prepared to provide any necessary help.

Officials believe the fire at al-Hussein Teaching Hospital in Nasiriyah city in Dhi Qar province was sparked by an oxygen cylinder explosion. At least 58 people were confirmed dead as of Tuesday morning, with another 100 injured, the Associated Press reported, although the death toll may rise.

“My condolences are with the people of Dhi Qar, and the entire country, for the painful images emerging from the hospital fire” Barzani said in a tweet on Tuesday.

The premier said he had “instructed the [Kurdistan Region] Health Minister to avail our services to the injured.”

Earlier on Tuesday, KRG Health Minister Saman Barzinji said the regional government was prepared to provide any necessary help for victims and healthcare workers.

The deadly incident is the second at an Iraqi COVID-19 treatment center in the last three months. In April a similar fire at Ibn al-Khatib Hospital in Baghdad killed 80 people and injured 100 more, and forced the health minister to resign.