BISHKEK, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed on Tuesday evening in a hospital fire in the Kyrgyz capital, the country's Health Ministry has said.
The fire reportedly broke out at the Research Institute of Cardiac Surgery in Bishkek around 9 p.m. (1500 GMT). It started in the basement, and the entire building quickly filled with smoke. The fire was completely extinguished two hours later.
As a result of the incident, 260 people were evacuated, namely 216 patients and 44 medical personnel, the health ministry said.
Despite resuscitation efforts, two postoperative patients -- a one-year-old child and a 16-year-old -- died in the intensive care unit of the cardiology center.
Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliyev has ordered the formation of an interdepartmental commission to investigate the cause of the fire. ■
