Fire at hospital nursery in Pakistan leaves more than a dozen newborns dead

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 01:40 EDT, 26 August 2026 | Updated: 01:40 EDT, 26 August 2026 A fire erupted early Wednesday at a nursery for newborns at a major government hospital in Pakistan´s capital, killing 14 babies, according to hospital officials and the government.The nursery at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences housed at least 15 newborns when the fire broke out, hospital officials said. At least one baby was rescued.Rescue officials said the fire began at about 6:45am, apparently after the compressor of an air-conditioning unit exploded inside the nursery, which is part of the hospital´s gynecology ward. Parents were seen in tears outside the hospital as they attempted to comfort one another upon hearing the news. Firefighters quickly responded and extinguished the blaze, and rescue teams were carrying out cooling operations at the site, local media reported.A hospital spokesperson did not immediately respond to calls seeking comment. A father reacts after the death of his child following a fire incident outside the Mother and Child Health (MCH) ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital in Islamabad Police officers move past an ambulance outside an intensive care unit after a fire broke out at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Parents were seen in tears outside the hospital as they attempted to comfort one another upon hearing the newsPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the deaths and ordered an immediate investigation. A statement from his office confirmed that 14 newborns had died. 'A tragedy involving children is an irreparable loss,' Sharif said.This is a developing story.