India... 5 Killed as Fire Hits World's Largest Vaccine Maker (Video)

A massive fire broke out at India's Covid-19 vaccine producer Serum Institute on Thursday, killing at least five people.

"Four people were evacuated from the building but when it came under control, five bodies were found by our jawans," Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol told news agency ANI.

Mohol added that the dead were perhaps workers at the under-construction building.

"The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained but it is being speculated that welding, that was going on at the building, caused the fire," Mohol stated.

[embed]https://twitter.com/SaffronPrince_/status/1352201598303309824?s=08[/embed]

On his part, India's Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that the fire was caused by welding sparks at the construction site at the SII.

"The inflammable material at the site aggravated the fire," Tope said.

SII CEO Adar Poonwalla assured people that there would be no loss in vaccine manufacturing because the company has other available facilities.

[embed]https://twitter.com/adarpoonawalla/status/1352219439345795073?s=08[/embed]

Although Poonwalla affirmed that “there have been no lives lost or major injuries due to the fire,” the CEO stated that “There has unfortunately been some loss of life at the incident.”

[embed]https://twitter.com/adarpoonawalla/status/1352231384694177792?s=08[/embed]

The fire, started in the afternoon on the fourth and fifth floors of the SEZ 3 building in the Serum Institute premises, was brought under control in two hours, India's police said.

Viral visuals from the site showed smoke billowing out from the Serum Institute facility.

A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team was rushed to the spot, an official said.

Chief Fire Officer Prashant Ranpise said cooling work has commenced at the spot, noting that fifteen water tankers were pressed into action and the fire was brought under control around 4.30 pm.