12 newborn babies killed in fire outbreak at Iraqi hospital

Twelve newborn babies were killed after a fire erupted at a Baghdad hospital on Wednesday, the Iraq’s health ministry said.

The ministry also reported 29 women and nine babies sustained injuries in the blaze.

The fire broke out in a corridor of the maternity ward of al-Yarmouk hospital, which lies in central Baghdad.

“Civil defence forces managed to extinguish the fire, evacuating the injured to nearby hospitals,” said Iraqi health ministry spokesman.

“Initial findings indicate that the incident was caused by an electrical short circuit.”