The patients died of asphyxiation on Monday in a private hospital in Alexandria. The incident, which also left seven people injured, started after a short circuit in the establishment’s air conditioning system.
The fire was brought under control by firefighters, a security source said. (Illustrative photo)
AFP
Seven patients with the new coronavirus died of suffocation in the fire of a private hospital in Alexandria (northern Egypt), a security source told AFP on Monday.
Fire broke out on Monday at Badraoui hospital in the east of the coastal city, killing seven patients and wounding seven, including patients and carers, the source said.
The fire, which started after a short circuit in the establishment’s air conditioning system, has since been brought under control, she added.
An investigation was opened by the local prosecution.
Struggling health system
Still far from having reached its peak, the pandemic has severely tested the already dilapidated Egyptian infrastructure and health system.
In addition to the increase in the number of infections in the medical profession, under-equipped and ill-prepared to deal with the virus, testimonies from people saying they cannot find a place in hospitals have recently multiplied on social networks.
Authorities have reported more than 1,000 new infections every day since late May, and the medical union, which represents the profession, has warned of a “possible total collapse” of the health care system, accusing the health ministry of “negligence”. .
Egypt, a country of 100 million inhabitants, has officially registered more than 65,000 cases of new coronavirus, including nearly 2,800 deaths, according to official figures.
(AFP/NXP)
–
