Early Tuesday morning, June 17, a devastating fire broke out at Qaem Hospital in Rasht, Iran, resulting in the deaths of nine patients and injuries to over 120 individuals. The blaze, which started in the hospital’s basement around 1:30 a.m., took three hours to control, during which time chaos and confusion reigned.
Rasht’s fire chief confirmed the fire’s origin in the basement but did not specify the cause. Eyewitness accounts and hospital staff reports suggest significant lapses in safety protocols and emergency response. According to one patient, despite the blaring fire alarm and thick smoke filling the corridors, nursing staff initially dismissed the alarm as a false trigger and restricted patient movement until nearly 2:30 a.m. This delay in evacuation significantly contributed to the casualties, as many patients suffered from smoke inhalation.
In a harrowing account, a witness described how an aggressive firefighter finally forced the evacuation by shouting and pushing patients and their families toward the emergency exits. This unprofessional conduct, combined with the apparent self-preservation actions of hospital staff, exacerbated the panic and disorganization, leading to more injuries and near-suffocations.
During the fire, 142 patients were in the hospital. Rescue operations led to the transfer of 95 patients to other hospitals across Rasht. However, most of the deceased were critically ill patients in the ICU and CCU, raising concerns about the hospital’s preparedness and the effectiveness of its emergency protocols.
#Iran: #Tehran's Iconic High-Rise (#Plasco Building) Collapsed Due to Fire. https://t.co/YsS6uOPJ3s pic.twitter.com/HuVafSJpU5
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) January 19, 2017
Initial reports on the death toll varied, but Health Minister Bahram Einollahi later confirmed nine fatalities. Einollahi stated that the fire was attributed to a malfunction in the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and emergency electrical systems located near the ICU. This explanation, however, was contradicted by details on the hospital’s website, which stated that Qaem Hospital, built in 2013, had 220 beds, contrary to the minister’s claim of it being a 2015 construction with 150 beds.
In a broader critique, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) Maryam Rajavi condemned the government’s neglect and corruption. She stated, “In the oppressive and autocratic regime of Khamenei, the people of #Iran face daily suffering and disasters. This includes the tragic loss of life and injuries sustained by defenseless patients during the fire at Qa’em Hospital in Gilan, as well as the plight of deprived workers trapped under the rubble following the collapse of the Shazand mine.“
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and pray for the swift recovery of the injured. The ruling mullahs are solely focused on preserving their oppressive clerical dictatorship, showing a blatant disregard for the lives and well-being of the people. There is only one solution: rising up and overthrowing this regime. As long as the clerical regime remains in power, such disasters will continue to occur,” she concluded.
Rajavi’s statement reflects a widespread sentiment that many Iranian buildings, including hospitals, lack adequate safety measures against disasters like fires and earthquakes. Her call for regime change underscores the frustration and desperation felt by many Iranians facing such recurrent tragedies.
This incident at Qaem Hospital not only highlights severe deficiencies in emergency response and building safety but also amplifies the growing discontent with the current regime’s inability to protect its citizens from preventable disasters.