A fire has broken out at the Serum Institute of India (SII) in Pune, India.

Earlier today, a fire erupted at a building under construction at Serum Institute of India (SII).

According to the Daily Star, the SII is the world’s biggest vaccine manufacturer, producing millions of doses of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. The blaze had reportedly started at an “under-construction building which was not housing the vaccine”. SII’s CEO Adar Poonawalla has reassured the public that vaccine production will not be affected.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and five people have lost their lives.

While it was initially believed that the fire did not result in any injuries or fatalities, Asian News International (ANI) reported that five bodies were later found. ANI further explained that the five people who lost their lives were “perhaps the workers at the under-construction building”.

CEO Adar Poonawalla also commented on the distressing news.

CEO Adar Poonawalla also commented on the distressing news.