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Coronavirus: 'Overloaded ventilator' kills five COVID-19 patients in Russia

The blaze on the sixth floor of the hospital Is said to have been started by an "overloaded ventilator".

Damaged windows are seen after a fire broke out in the Saint George hospital in Saint Petersburg on May 12, 2020. - A fire at a hospital in Russia's second city Saint Petersburg on May 12 killed five coronavirus patients who had been attached to ventilators, officials and news agencies said. (Photo by OLGA MALTSEVA / AFP) (Photo by OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP via Getty Images)
Image: Damaged windows are seen after the at Saint George hospital in Saint Petersburg
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A fire which is thought to have been started by an overloaded ventilator has killed five patients being treated for the coronavirus at a hospital in Russia

According to Russian emergency officials, the blaze at St George Hospital broke out in the intensive care unit on the sixth floor on Tuesday morning, where patients are being treated for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

All the victims are said to be on ventilators at the time of the fire in Saint Petersburg.

A medic wearing protective gear looks out from a window of the Saint George hospital after a fire broke out in the medical facility in Saint Petersburg
Image: A medic wearing protective gear looks out from a window of the hospital

Citing anonymous sources, the Interfax news agency said the fire, potentially caused by a faulty ventilator, was put out within 30 minutes of it starting, while AFP reports that 150 patients were moved out of the site for safety.

Russia's Investigative Committee, which examines serious crimes, has launched a criminal investigation.

Another hospital fire took place on Saturday in Russia, with the blaze at the SpasokukotAG百家乐在线官网 Hospital in Moscow killing on patient.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia rose by 10,899 on Tuesday to well over 220,000, while only reporting just over 2,000 COVID-19 related deaths.