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A fire which is thought to have been started by an overloaded ventilator has killed five patients being treated for the coronavirus at a hospital in Russia
According to Russian emergency officials, the blaze at St George Hospital broke out in the intensive care unit on the sixth floor on Tuesday morning, where patients are being treated for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
All the victims are said to be on ventilators at the time of the fire in Saint Petersburg.
A medic wearing protective gear looks out from a window of the hospital
Citing anonymous sources, the Interfax news agency said the fire, potentially caused by a faulty ventilator, was put out within 30 minutes of it starting, while AFP reports that 150 patients were moved out of the site for safety.
Russia’s Investigative Committee, which examines serious crimes, has launched a criminal investigation.
Another hospital fire took place on Saturday in Russia, with the blaze at the Spasokukotsky Hospital in Moscow killing on patient.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia rose by 10,899 on Tuesday to well over 220,000, while only reporting just over 2,000 COVID-19 related deaths.
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