1 Dead, 2 Moderately Injured After Fire Breaks Out In Beersheva Hospital Ward

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — One patient at the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva was found dead after a fire broke out in a hospital ward early Wednesday morning.

The fire was apparently caused by a cigarette which ignited a mattress in the ward. Fire and Rescue workers arrived swiftly and evacuated dozens of patients from the ward, as well as medical staff and family members of patients. Some patients who are hooked up to oxygen tanks and confined to their beds were also rescued

The Israel Fire and Rescue Services said the blaze broke out in a hospital wing housing dozens of patients, who were evacuated by firefighters. Medical workers and the family of a patient were also cleared from the building.

According to a statement, among those rescued in the complex operation were patients  confined to their hospital beds and hooked up to oxygen tanks. Two people with respiratory diseases suffered smoke inhalation and are in moderate condition and one person who also required oxygen was found dead at the scene.

Firemen later succeeded in gaining control over the fire. The fire service announced that a special investigative team was being set up to probe the incident.