The blaze at the Al-Hussein hospital in the southern city of Nasiriya was brought under control late on Monday, the BBC reported.
The cause is unclear, but initial reports suggest it began after an oxygen tank exploded.
Reporters described charred bodies being carried out of the building. Rescuers are still searching for survivors.
Health official Haydar al-Zamili told a leading media outlet that there are fears people are still trapped inside the ward, which reportedly has space for 60 patients.
Protesters demonstrated outside the hospital after the fire, and people posted on social media demanding the resignation of officials.
Iraq's parliament speaker Mohamed al-Halbousi tweeted that the blaze was "clear proof of the failure to protect Iraqi lives, and it is time to put an end to this catastrophic failure".
In April, an exploding oxygen tank started a fire that killed at least 82 people at a hospital in the capital Baghdad. Health minister Hassan al-Tamimi resigned after that fire.
The coronavirus pandemic has severely strained Iraq's health service, already suffering from years of war, neglect and corruption.
Iraq has recorded 1.4 million infections and reported more than 17,000 deaths from coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
The country has given at least one dose of a vaccine against Covid to just over one million of its roughly 40 million citizens, the World Health Organization says.
Gut-wrenching visuals of the tragedy showed remains of some patients roasted alive on stretchers and beds.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the loss of lives due to fire at a hospital in Bharuch in which at least sixteen Covid-19 patients and two nurses were killed.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said: “Pained by the loss of lives due to a fire at a hospital in Bharuch. Condolences to the bereaved families.”
Pained by the loss of lives due to a fire at a hospital in Bharuch. Condolences to the bereaved families.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 1, 2021
There were around 50 other patients at the four- storeyed Welfare Hospital when the fire broke out in the COVID-19 ward at 1 am. They were rescued by locals and firefighters, an official said.
“As per information at 6.30 am, the death toll in the tragedy stood at 18. Immediately after the fire, we had confirmation of 12 deaths,” a police official told PTI.
The 12 patients in the COVID-19 ward died due to the fire and resultant smoke, Bharuch SP Rajendrasinh Chudasama said.
It is not clear if the remaining six also died in the Welfare hospital or while being shifted to other hospitals.
The COVID-19 designated hospital is situated on the Bharuch-Jambusar highway, around 190 km from the state capital Ahmedabad and is being run by a trust.
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, the official said.
The fire was controlled within an hour and around 50 patients were rescued by locals as well as firefighters, a fire official said. They were shifted to nearby hospitals, he added.
A detailed inquiry would be conducted to ascertain that what caused the fire at the hospital, said Samal adding that all the 127 patients including those who were undergoing treatment in ICU have been shifted to SCB, Ashwini and other hospitals.
Samal further stated that though nobody has been injured in the mishap, a detailed investigation will be conducted to ascertain what triggered the fire. Moreover, steps will be taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur.
Earlier, panic gripped attendants after a fire mishap was reported at the COVID hospital today. As many as 127 COVID-19 positive patients were undergoing treatment at the hospital.
“At around 1 pm, we heard a loud noise. Later, the entire hospital was filled with smoke. There was utter chaos and patients came out of the building using mobile flash lights,” said a patient.
Cuttack Collector, Bhabani Shankar Chayani informed that all the critical patients have been evacuated and admitted to other hospitals.
“It was certainly challenging for everybody. However, the situation was successfully managed,” said Chayani.
#CuttackCOVIDHopsitalFire: The fire was caused due to short circuit in an air-conditioner, informs Dr Samita Mohanty of the hospital #Cuttack https://t.co/klhFUdpwe0
— OTV (@otvnews) September 21, 2020
Twin City Police Commissioner, Sudhanshu Sarangi stated that despite knowing the risks, police and fire services personnel responded well to the emergency situation and rescued the COVID-19 patients.
“The non-critical patients were shifted to DRIEMS COVID Care Centre while the critically-ill patients were shifted to other hospitals on a priority basis,” said Sarangi.
Also Read: Fire Breaks Out In COVID Hospital In Cuttack
Preliminary investigation revealed that due to an electrical short-circuit in one of the hospital's air conditioners, the fire broke out today in which some portion of a bed was gutted.
“There were some shortfall in the passive system for which no fire safety license was issued to the hospital,” said Sethi.
Sethi further informed that after an inspection, certain shortcomings were detected and notice was issued to the authorities of the concerned hospital and were asked to comply for which fire safety certificate was not issued to Sadguru hospital.
#CuttackCOVIDHopsitalFire: The fire was caused due to short circuit in an air-conditioner, informs Dr Samita Mohanty of the hospital #Cuttack https://t.co/klhFUdpwe0
— OTV (@otvnews) September 21, 2020
Earlier, panic had gripped after fire was reported at Sadguru hospital at Jagatpur area. Though no casualties were reported, all the 127 COVID-19 patients were shifted to other hospitals in different parts of the city.
Also Read: Cuttack COVID Hospital Fire Will Be Probed, Says RDC
A day after the incident that necessitated an unprecedented evacuation of over 127 Covid patients- much to the inconvenience of families, doctors and paramedics- the Fire Brigade on Tuesday began mock drills at several other COVID hospitals in the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar to check preparedness in case of a similar eventuality.
In the wake of Cuttack COVID hospital fire, Fire dept officials to conduct mock drills today at SUM, KIMS and Aditya Ashwini hospitals in Bhubaneswar #Odisha
— OTV (@otvnews) September 22, 2020
Experts in Odisha Fire Services Department reviewed the fire safety arrangements and other mechanisms at SUM Covid Hospital, Aditya Ashwini in Bhubaneswar and several other hospitals in Cuttack.
Fire Officer Ramesh Majhi informed that a dedicated team had earlier conducted an inspection and had checked various fire safety apparatus in place at various hospitals.
“Today, we are sensitising hospital officials and staff and training them on use of several equipment so that they can deal with emergency situations,” said Majhi.
Majhi further informed that specialised training is also being imparted to hospital staff on handling COVID-19 positive patients (during evacuation), handling of fire fighting equipment and other related aspects.
Also Read: Fire Breaks Out In COVID Hospital In Cuttack
Earlier on Monday, the Odisha government ordered an inquiry after a fire broked out at Sadguru Covid Hospital in Cuttack.
As many as 127 patients had to be immediately evacuated and shifted to other dedicated COVID hospital and COVID Care Centres in the city.
The fire reportedly broke out due to a short circuit in an air conditioner in the ICU.
Also Read: Cuttack COVID Hospital Fire: Sadguru Hospital Has No Fire Safety License, Says Chief Fire Officer
But, are hospitals implementing the laid-down guidelines? And is the State fire services department serious about the enforcement measures? Here's a reality check.
On Monday (February 1) at around 12:30 PM, a major fire broke out in the top floor of Sun Hospital, a multi-speciality private health centre at the Biju Patnaik Chhak in Tulsipur area of Cuttack. Though seven fire fighting teams were rushed to the spot, the intensity of the flames was so high that a Bronto Skylift and other equipment were deployed to douse the blaze. The whole dousing operation took almost two hours.
But by the time the fire was brought under control, the whole of the fifth floor comprising an office, Digi set room, computer room and a canteen, was completely devastated. The documents had reduced to ashes. Fortunately, there has been no loss of life or injury to patients admitted to the hospital.
Biswajit Sahu, coordinator of Sun Hospital said, "The fifth floor, the office area where all equipment are stored, caught fire. The server, electrical management, IT, financial management departments suffered massive destruction."
Built almost 20 years back in the heart of the silver city, the hospital building is situated right in front of the office of Chief Fire Officer, but the very fact that it had been operating without fire licence or fire safety certificate, has come as a shocker for many.
"As many as 11 patients were undergoing treatment at the hospital. They have been safely evacuated and shifted to other hospitals in the city. Apart from them, there were around 49 staff at the hospital, all of them have been rescued. There are no reports of any casualty," said CMC Commissioner Ananya Das.
Following the incident, Cuttack Collector Bhabani Shankar Chayani ordered a probe into the fire mishap to ascertain the cause of the blaze.
Chief Fire Officer of Cuttack, Maheswar Swain said, "Seven fire fighting units were pressed into service. We also took the help of a hydraulic platform to carry out operations. We will investigate to find the reason behind the fire mishap. The hospital lacks a fire safety certificate, we have not granted any fire licence to the hospital."
Back in October 2016, a massive fire outbreak due to a suspected electric short circuit at SUM hospital in Bhubaneswar had claimed more than 25 lives, injured many and ravaged several areas of the medical facility.
In September 2020, when the coronavirus infection was dominant in most parts of the State, another fire mishap was witnessed at Sadguru Covid hospital at Jagatpur area in Cuttack. Though no casualties were reported, there were some 127 Covid patients at the facility who were shifted to other hospitals in the city. Upon an investigation, it was revealed that Sadguru hospital too did not possess a fire safety certificate.
These incidents have raised serious questions over the in-house fire safety measures at the hospitals. The State fire services directorate has also come under the scanner state for allegedly allowing a large number of hospitals to function without proper fire safety clearance. The only solution to the never-ending issue could be a re-audit of all fire safety norms at all hospitals of Odisha.
Fire breaks out at a private hospital at Tulsipur in Cuttack; five fire tenders at the spot to douse the flame #Odisha pic.twitter.com/SijtVJfhL8
— OTV (@otvnews) February 1, 2021