File photo: scene of a fire disaster

12 newborn babies are dead after a fire erupted at a Baghdad hospital on Wednesday, the Iraq’s Health Ministry said.

The ministry also reported 29 women and nine babies injured in the blaze.

The fire broke out in a corridor of the maternity ward of al-Yarmouk hospital, which lies in central Baghdad.

“Civil defence forces managed to extinguish the fire, evacuating the injured to nearby hospitals.

“Initial findings indicate the incident was caused by an electrical short circuit,’’ Iraqi Health Ministry spokesman Ahmmed al-Rudaini said. (dpa/NAN)