Six Newborns Die in a Single Day at Bangladesh Hospital...What Was the Cause?

"Air Conditioner Failed During Heatwave"
Authorities Investigate Possible Electrical Faults

Authorities in Bangladesh have launched an investigation after six newborns died in a single day at a hospital.

On May 28, Yonhap News, citing AFP and China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, reported that six newborns died just hours apart the previous day at a hospital in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. The babies who died were between one and three days old and were staying in the neonatal ward at the time.

Six newborns died in one day at a hospital in Bangladesh. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

A senior official with the Bangladesh police stated, "We responded to a report that 'six infants died from abnormal causes' and went to the hospital." Prabhat Chandra Biswas, an official with the Bangladesh Ministry of Health, said, "At dawn the previous day, the temperature in Dhaka was 32 degrees Celsius," and added, "the air conditioning in the ward was not working." He continued, "When the (ward) air conditioner shuts off, there are no backup facilities, and the inside of the ward became unbearably hot."

Among the deceased, one newborn, who was in poor health, was moved to the intensive care unit but was returned to the ward after just one hour; the others also began exhibiting abnormal symptoms and subsequently died one after another. Nahida Yasmin, a director at the hospital, told reporters, "All the newborns were placed on ventilators, but we could not save them." She added, "An investigation is ongoing, and more time is needed to determine the exact cause of death for the newborns."

Bangladesh Ministry of Health spokesperson Zahid Raihan said, "Initial information suggests the cause of death was not abuse," adding, "Investigators are looking into whether there were any technical issues with the air conditioning or electrical equipment."

Janu, 55, who was seen outside the hospital holding her granddaughter's body wrapped in a burial shroud, told AFP tearfully, "There were no issues until last night (the 26th)," and added, "One by one, the babies' bodies turned blue."

Bangladesh is currently experiencing its hottest season of the year, with temperatures reaching up to 37 degrees Celsius since late last month. However, a combination of an energy crisis caused by the Middle East war and the heatwave is disrupting power supply. Although Bangladesh is the world's second-largest garment manufacturing nation, workers at factories are suffering because cooling devices, including fans, cannot operate properly due to the electricity shortages. In addition, an outbreak of measles that began in March this year has led to the deaths of 512 children in the past two months alone.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.