11 newborn babies dead in fire at Senegal hospital
May 26, 2022, 6:56 am

11 newborn babies dead in fire at Senegal hospital

The tragedy took place at a regional hospital in the town of Tivaouane. - Google Maps

Senegal's President Macky Sall said on Wednesday (May 25) that 11 newborn babies died in a fire at the neonatal section of a regional hospital in the town of Tivaouane, around 120 km (74.56 miles) east of the capital Dakar.

Sall said in a tweet: "I have just learned with pain and consternation the death of 11 newborn babies in the fire that occurred in the neonatology department of the Mame Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh hospital in Tivaouane."

Sall, who was on a state visit in Angola, added: "To their mothers and their families, I express my deepest sympathy."

Senegal's health minister, Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, said on private Senegalese television TFM that "according to preliminary investigation, a short circuit triggered the fire".

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According to Senegalese politician Diop Sy, the tragedy occurred at Mame Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh Hospital in the transport hub of Tivaouane, and was caused by “a short circuit." He said: "The fire spread very quickly."

The city’s mayor Demba Diop said “three babies were saved.”

Health minister Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, who was in Geneva attending a meeting with the World Health Organization, said he would return to Senegal immediately.

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He said on radio: “This situation is very unfortunate and extremely painful,” adding that “An investigation is under way to see what happened.”

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