Safety lapses alleged in Saudi hospital fire

The blaze broke out at the intensive care unit and the maternity ward of the Jazan General Hospital in southern Saudi Arabia.

 The initial investigation revealed that the hospital was given a warning by the Saudi civil defence agency over safety and emergency violation three years ago, which were ignored according to The New Arab's correspondent in Saudi Arabia.

 The report cited 22 violations including the failure of the overhead sprinklers and the alarm system, in addition to obstacles in front of emergency exits.

"What happened in this hospital was a crime of murder," said Issa Amaish whose sister was killed in the fire in an interview with Saudi owned al-Arabiya. "This hospital was not equipped at all to deal with a fire."

Meanwhile, the Saudi ministry of health announced that all the deaths were due to smoke inhalation.

The ministry added that the injured also suffered from smoke inhalation, in addition to sustaining injuries as they attempted to escape. 

On Thursday evening the ministry said that 57 people were discharged from local hospitals after being treated for their injuries, while the majority of victims are in stable condition.

"Only eight cases remain in critical care," said the ministry of health.  

In August, 10 people were killed and 259 wounded in a fire at a residential complex rented by oil giant Saudi Aramco in the kingdom's Eastern Province.