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At least 15 newborns killed in Pakistan hospital fire
Confirmed
August 26, 2026 / 1:48 AM EDT / CBS/AP Islamabad — A fire at a nursery in a major government hospital in Pakistan's capital killed at least 14 newborns, hospital officials and the government said. The nursery at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences housed at least 15 newborns when the fire broke out, hospital officials said.
Rescue officials said the fire began at about 6:45 a.m., apparently after the compressor of an air-conditioning unit exploded inside the nursery, which is part of the hospital's gynecology ward. In a statement posted on social media platform X, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered his condolences to the bereaved families and ordered an immediate investigation into the incident.
Local broadcaster Geo TV put the death toll at 15, and said one infant was rescued from the ward before firefighters managed to extinguish the flames. Firefighters quickly responded and extinguished the blaze, and rescue teams were carrying out cooling operations at the site, local media reported.
"A tragedy involving children is an irreparable loss," Sharif said. © 2026 CBS Interactive Inc.
What's confirmed
- In a statement posted on social media platform X, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered his condolences to the bereaved families and ordered an immediate investigation into the incident.
- August 26, 2026 / 1:48 AM EDT / CBS/AP Islamabad — A fire at a nursery in a major government hospital in Pakistan's capital killed at least 14 newborns, hospital officials and the government said.
- Rescue officials said the fire began at about 6:45 a.m., apparently after the compressor of an air-conditioning unit exploded inside the nursery, which is part of the hospital's gynecology ward.
- Local broadcaster Geo TV put the death toll at 15, and said one infant was rescued from the ward before firefighters managed to extinguish the flames.
- "A tragedy involving children is an irreparable loss," Sharif said.
What's still developing
- Local broadcaster Geo TV put the death toll at 15, and said one infant was rescued from the ward before firefighters managed to extinguish the flames.
- August 26, 2026 / 1:48 AM EDT / CBS/AP Islamabad — A fire at a nursery in a major government hospital in Pakistan's capital killed at least 14 newborns, hospital officials and the government said.
- The nursery at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences housed at least 15 newborns when the fire broke out, hospital officials said.
- Rescue officials said the fire began at about 6:45 a.m., apparently after the compressor of an air-conditioning unit exploded inside the nursery, which is part of the hospital's gynecology ward.
- Firefighters quickly responded and extinguished the blaze, and rescue teams were carrying out cooling operations at the site, local media reported.
- "A tragedy involving children is an irreparable loss," Sharif said. © 2026 CBS Interactive Inc.