At least 36 killed as COVID-19 isolation ward catches fire in Iraq

• A massive fire has ripped through a COVID-19 ward at a hospital in Nasiriya, Iraq, killing dozens with many more missing.

At least 36 people have died in Nasiriya, Iraq, after a fire engulfed the COVID-19 isolation ward at the Al-Hussein hospital, according to Al Jazeera.

Health officials told the outlet that the death toll may rise as many people are still missing, and the ward held up to 60 patients. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazimi declared a state of emergency in the region and the hospital's manager resigned in response.

-Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) July 12, 2021

The tragedy follows a similar blaze in April, when a fire at a Baghdad hospital, caused by exploding oxygen cylinders, killed 82 people and injured at least 110 people. Protestors gathered outside Al-Nasiriya on Monday, after reports that poorly stored oxygen cylinders again contributed to Monday's fire.