BAKU: Four newborn babies were killed in a late-night fire at a maternity clinic in Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku. The blaze occurred at the Republican Perinatal Center, prompting emergency services to conduct a swift rescue operation.
According to officials, the fire erupted at 03:05 local time (2305 GMT), impacting an intensive care unit where four infants were undergoing treatment. The flames were quickly extinguished by rescuers, who worked through the night to evacuate patients, including those in incubators, and transfer them to awaiting ambulances.
Fire Incident at Maternity Clinic in Azerbaijan
In a statement, the emergencies ministry confirmed the devastating toll, stating, “Four newborn babies died at the Republican Perinatal Center in Baku, and three people were poisoned by smoke.”
Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev, addressing the media, noted that a thorough investigation would be conducted to determine the cause of the infants’ deaths, whether directly from the fire or due to smoke inhalation.
President Ilham Aliyev has taken a personal interest in the case, vowing to oversee the probe himself. The government has emphasized the need for time to conduct a meticulous examination into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
