Five dead in India vaccine plant fire, CEO mourns 'loss of life'

Smoke rises from the Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine maker that is manufacturing the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine for the coronavirus, in Pune, India, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP)

Workers wearing protective gear walk after a fire broke out at India's Serum Institute in Pune on January 21, 2021. (AFP)

• The company said the fire was restricted to a new facility it is constructing to increase production of COVID-19 vaccines
• It said the fire did not affect existing facilities making COVID-19 vaccines or a stockpile of around 50 million doses

MUMBAI: Five people died as a fire tore through a building in the world's biggest vaccine production hub in western India Thursday, officials said.
"Five people have died," Pune city mayor Murlidhar Mohol told reporters following the fire at the Serum Institute of India.
Rescue workers discovered five bodies in the under-construction building after the blaze was brought under control, media reports said, but the company insisted its production of drugs to counter the coronavirus pandemic was not affected.
"We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed," Adar Poonawalla, the firm's CEO, tweeted, without offering further details.

The company said the fire was restricted to a new facility it is constructing to increase production of COVID-19 vaccines and ensure it is better prepared for future pandemics.
Poonwala added there would be no loss in vaccine manufacturing because the company has other available facilities.