GRIEVING IRAQIS FEAR THERE ARE NO ANSWERS IN NASIRIYAH ASHES
▶ Public frustration over government’s lack of action on safety grows after deadly hospital blaze
Anger among Iraqis grew after a hospital fire killed more than 90 people yesterday, one of the worst disasters the country has suffered in recent months.
The authorities faced accusations of negligence from grieving relatives, friends and hospital staff at the scene of the deadly fire at Al Hussein coronavirus hospital in the city of Nasiriyah.
Some cried openly and angrily, blaming the fire on the provincial government of Dhi Qar, where Nasiriyah is located, and the federal government in Baghdad for many years of mismanagement and corruption.
“People entered the hospital sick and left with their bodies burnt alive, or even just bones,” Mujab Abdulrahman said.
“I saw how people were rushing to save victims from the fire. It happened at night so people could not see the exit, firefighters were unable to reach the place,” he told The National.
Mr Abdulrahman, 21, placed responsibility for the deaths on the engineering department in Nasiriyah’s health directorate.
While the exact cause of the blaze remained unclear, local media reports suggested it broke out after an oxygen tank exploded.
“The hospital was built under poor conditions that did not follow the safety requirements set by international health standards,” he said.
Mr Abdulrahman said he believed the official death toll was inaccurate and that the real number of fatalities was higher than the figure released by the government.
“I witnessed more than 25 people dead within a couple of minutes,” he said.
He thought about 140 people were killed by the fire.
Hours after the blaze began rescue teams continued to search for those missing from the coronavirus ward.
Rescue workers and bystanders were seen lifting rubble and metal plates in the search for survivors and victims. Some said they were looking for remains.
“What we are doing now should be done by a medical and forensic team. We are the ones looking for bones and raw flesh in this place,” Ali Al Rubaie, 46, told The National.
“Someone must be held accountable,” he said.
Abbas Al Hadidi was crying at the hospital’s front door.
He did not have any relatives in the hospital but lives in the neighbourhood.
“The government did not do enough to protect these people,” he said. “I’m crying for all the people who were killed, for the children, women and men, for everyone.
“We need to know what happened. Why did this happen?”
Mr Al Hadidi said he feared the incident would be forgotten about in a matter of days but urged the authorities to do more to protect civilians.
It was Iraq’s second deadly hospital fire in three months, and President Barham Salih blamed corruption for both events.
Citizens of Nasiriyah called on the government to step down.
“What has happened is a genocide,” said Ahmed Hussein, 55.
“The Iraqi citizen has no rights. There is no investigation into the fire even though the government says it has opened one, but it’s all lies.
“We are voiceless,” he said.