Fire sweeps through Saudi hospital wards, 25 dead

It broke out in the early hours of Thursday around the hospital’s intensive care, maternity and neonatal care wards.

At least 20 brigades from the civil defence directorate were deployed to fight the blaze, which has now been brought under control.

The ministry said those injured were transferred to hospitals nearby and that an investigation is under way to find out the causes of the fire. Following the fire, a number of people posted complaints about the area’s infrastructure to social media, according to the BBC.

Al Riyadh daily quoted a Civil Defence spokesman as saying that the agency was alerted of the fire at 2am (2300 GMT Wednesday).

According to Al Jazeera, as many as 31 people were killed.

The civil agency also reported that, that the fire was ignited by an electric short circuit in the underground parking where 130 cars were parked.

The blaze badly damaged the interior, charring walls and leaving wreckage dangling from the ceiling.

“Update on Fire in Jizan Central Hospital, Saudi Arabia where 30 Indian nurses were on duty”. “We must be frank”.

Others called for Health Minister Khalid al-Falih to be sacked. The blaze killed at least 25 people and injured 107 others, though all intensive care patients and children were said to have survived.

Jazan is near the border with Yemen, which has seen months of fighting between Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed forces.

The Emir prayed to the Almighty God to bestow his mercy on them, rest them in peace and bless the injured with a speedy recovery.

The kingdom has also been struggling with multiple pressures.

Ahmed Al Sahli, Director of Health Affairs in the region, told Al Arabiya that many people had been able to escape easily because the doors were open and safety equipment was in place.