Ten dead after oxygen tank blows up in parked ambulance

A sudden explosion inside a parked ambulance killed at least 10 people at a government-run medical facility in southern Pakistan. The incident occurred overnight in Tharparkar district, Sindh province, according to district Police Chief Arif Aziz.

The victims included medical staff, patients, and relatives. Local police official Khalil Abro explained that the blast happened while patients were in the process of being transferred to a different hospital. Witnesses described flames engulfing the vehicle, with one door standing open. Other footage showed the blackened frame of the ambulance outside a building as onlookers gathered nearby.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari reacted to the tragedy by expressing sorrow for the families affected. His office released a statement calling for a prompt and transparent investigation to determine exactly what caused the oxygen cylinder to explode. Zardari also urged authorities to strengthen safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

This is not the first recent medical facility disaster in the country. In August, an exploding air conditioner sparked a fire that killed 14 newborns in a nursery at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad. One additional baby rescued from that nursery died weeks later, bringing the total death toll for that incident to 15.

Police and hospital officials confirmed the details of the Tharparkar blast on Thursday. The investigation into the specific failure of the oxygen system is ongoing.