Probe finds 5 people responsible for deadly hospital fire in Jazan

RIYADH — A committee constituted to investigate a massive fire that hit a public hospital in Jazan in 2015 has found five individuals responsible for the deadly disaster. The fire on Dec. 24, 2015, at Jazan General Hospital resulted in the deaths of 25 people and injuries to 123 others. Yaseen Al-Qassim, deputy spokesman for the Jazan governorate, said the committee was formed after the fire with representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution and the Ministry of Finance. The committee found five individuals who approved the hospital’s construction plan that had multiple violations responsible for the fire. The five included a former official at Jazan Health Affairs and two architects. The committee has forwarded the results of its finding to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution, said Al-Qassim. He said the committee will also sue a national company for its negligence in carrying out the responsibilities it was assigned. “Jazan Emir Prince Mohammad Bin Nasser regularly followed up with the progress of the investigation and underlined the need to urgently compensate the victims and their heirs. The prince also urged to review the Civil Defense’s emergency plans in all public hospitals,” said Al-Qassim. He said the committee reviewed all documents and ran a thorough investigation after the relatives of the victims demanded justice. The victims and their heirs are still awaiting the payment of compensation.