Patient found dead after fire breaks out at Beersheba hospital
Fire service says dozens of others rescued from blaze at Soroka Medical Center, including patients confined to beds and hooked up to oxygen
A hospital patient was found dead early Wednesday morning after a fire erupted at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba.
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 were patients who were confined to their hospital beds and hooked up to oxygen tanks.
The fire service added that one of the patients was found without signs of life.
A statement from the hospital said the man had been treated with oxygen, without further elaborating.
The hospital said two other patients with respiratory diseases suffered smoke inhalation and were listen in moderate condition.
The blaze was later brought under control as rescue teams searched for any additional trapped patients.
The fire service announced that a special investigative team was being set up to probe the incident.