15 newborns killed after fire breaks out in Pakistan hospital
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "15 newborns killed after fire breaks out in Pakistan hospital")
Workers remove shards of broken windows following a fire incident outside the Mother and Child Health (MCH) ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital in Islamabad on August 26, 2026. Photograph: (AFP)
At least 15 infants were killed after a fire broke out at the PIMS hospital nursery in Islamabad. The blaze reportedly followed an AC compressor explosion, prompting PM Shehbaz Sharif to order a probe.
At least 15 infants were killed after a major fire erupted at the state-run hospital in Pakistan’s Islamabad on Wednesday (Aug 26). According to the Islamabad district office, the fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Ward at the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. At the time of the incident, the nursery was housing 16 newborns, of whom just one was rescued.
According to a Geo TV report, citing rescue sources, the fire started at 6:45 am after an air-conditioner compressor explosion inside the nursery at the hospital.
In a statement, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed “profound grief and heartfelt sorrow over the tragic incident of a fire in the nursery of PIMS Hospital.”
Sharif “took notice of the tragic fire incident and directed the authorities to conduct an immediate investigation.”
“Such a situation with children is irreparable,” the prime minister said.
“A detailed review of the causes of the incident should be conducted, those responsible should be identified, and the strictest action should be taken,” he added.
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Islamabad Chief Commissioner Sohail Ashraf said the emergency call was received shortly before 7 am local time. Rescue and police teams reached the hospital soon after and brought the fire under control, he said.
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In a post on X, former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif said, “Hearing the news of 14 innocent children losing their lives in the fire tragedy at Pims Hospital has left my heart deeply grieved. I share equally in the sorrow of the bereaved parents. May Allah Almighty grant patience and fortitude to the affected families. The government must identify those responsible, take strict action, and ensure measures are in place to prevent such incidents in the future.”
Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also expressed his grief following the incident. In a post on X, he wrote, “Deeply saddened and heartbroken by the tragic fire at the nursery of PIMS Hospital, in which 14 newborns lost their lives. My deepest condolences to the bereaved parents and families. No words can ease the pain of losing an innocent child. May Allah Almighty grant the families strength and sabr in this unimaginably difficult hour.”
He added, “As per Prime Minister’s orders an immediate and thorough investigation will establish the causes of this tragic incident to ensure that those found responsible face the strictest action. The safety of our children must remain paramount.”
The incident left families distraught outside the hospital. An AFP reporter at the scene saw a woman crying while a man cleared shattered glass from two broken windows. Security personnel were stationed at the hospital entrance.
The fire has once again raised questions over safety standards at large buildings in Pakistan, where deadly blazes have repeatedly exposed concerns over fire preparedness and enforcement of building regulations.
In January, more than 65 people were killed in a fire at a shopping centre in Karachi. Another shopping mall blaze in the city killed at least 11 people in 2023. Pakistan has also witnessed deadly industrial fires. At least 16 workers died in a Karachi factory fire in 2021.
The country’s deadliest recent industrial fire occurred in 2012, when at least 250 workers were killed after a garment factory in Karachi's Baldia Town caught fire. The building did not have a fire escape.
The cause of Wednesday’s hospital fire remains under investigation.
