Emergency services confirmed that eight newborn babies have been killed in during fire outbreak in a maternity hospital in eastern Algeria.
The pre-dawn fire had started at 3:50am in the hospital which was in Oued Souf, 500 kilometres (310 miles) southeast of the capital, Algiers.
Captain Nassim Bernaoui, spokesman for the emergency services, said “We managed to rescue 11 babies, 37 women and 28 staff,”
“Unfortunately, we regret the deaths of eight babies, some from burns and others from smoke inhalation,” .
The General Directorate of Algerian Civil Protection later wrote on Twitter that the fire had been contained and prevented from spreading to other wards.
According to the emergency services, the government has opened an inquiry into the cause of the fire.
The fire is said to be the second blaze to hit the maternity hospital in Oued Souf in 18 months.
SOURCE: AL JAZEERA
