A least 14 infants were killed after a fire broke out at the maternity ward of a hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday.

"A fire broke out on the third floor of the MCH Ward at PIMS Hospital," the district office of Islamabad said, referring to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.

The blaze broke out at around 6:45 a.m. (0145 UTC) when an air conditioning unit exploded inside the nursery, rescuers said.

Officials said 16 newborns were in the ward at the time, adding that one was rescued.

Outside the hospital, a nurse read out the names of babies who had perished as their families gathered around.

"I lost my daughter. She was only three days old," one father told the AFP news agency.

"My wife was in the ward. They took everyone out. We were sitting on the road waiting for help."

Investigation underway

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an immediate investigation into the incident.

"A tragedy involving children is an irreparable loss," he said in a statement.

"Those ​responsible should be identified, and ​the strictest action should be taken."

The incident is one of the deadliest hospital fires in recent memory in Pakistan, where healthcare is subsidized but public hospitals are often are under-resourced and overburdened.

Edited by: Wesley Dockery

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