Iraqi PM Suspends Health Minister Over Huge Fire In Baghdad’s Hospital

Hassan al-Tamimi

BAGHDAD, Apr 26 (NNN-NINA) – Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, yesterday suspended Minister of Health, Hassan al-Tamimi, and launched an investigation into the huge fire at the Ibn al-Khatib hospital.

A statement by Al-Kadhimi’s media office said, the prime minister held an extraordinary session to discuss the tragic fire at the hospital, which is located in eastern Bagdad and provides care for severe COVID-19 patients.

Al-Kadhimi decided to form a committee, headed by Minister of Interior, Abdul Ghani al-Asadi, to investigate the fire within a five-day period, to hold those negligent people responsible, the statement said.

The session came after several oxygen cylinders exploded, late Saturday night, setting off a huge fire at the Hospital, leaving at least 82 people dead and some 110 wounded.