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.

The five people who died, were perhaps the 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: Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol#SerumInstituteofIndia https://t.co/KmSngS3TI6

— ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2021

CEO Adar Poonawalla also commented on the distressing news.

We have just received some distressing updates; upon further investigation we have learnt that there has unfortunately been some loss of life at the incident. We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed.

— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 21, 2021