Blast at hospital in the Dominican Republic kills at least 9

Blast at hospital in the Dominican Republic kills at least 9

2010-11-25 13:31:46 GMT+7 (ICT)

VILLA MELLA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (BNO NEWS) -- An explosion and resulting fire at a hospital in the central Dominican Republic left at least nine people killed on Wednesday, the El Nuevo Diario newspaper reported on Thursday.

The explosion, believed to have been caused by a problem with electricity supply cables, happened at the Ney Arias Lora Hospital in Villa Mella. The blast and a resulting fire killed nine people and left several others injured.

Rescue teams and paramedics were rushed to the scene and so far recovered two bodies. Firefighters are still trying to get the blaze under control.

Rescue workers were able to rescue a female engineer alive but she later died due to the severity of the carbon monoxide intoxication as a result of the smoke she inhaled.

The hospital belongs to the Public Health Ministry and is located in Villa Mella, a municipality about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the Dominican capital city of Santo Domingo. The building was to be used as the headquarters for a government-sponsored program to sell medicines at a lower price.

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