A fire broke out at Khulna City Medical College Hospital on Thursday night, prompting a large-scale firefighting operation.

The blaze erupted around 9:33pm on the ground floor of the hospital's 17-storey building, located at Moylapota intersection in Sonadanga area, according to fire service officials.

On information, five units from Khulna Sadar Fire Station rushed to the scene and began efforts to bring the fire under control, said Masud Sarder, deputy director of Khulna Fire Service and Civil Defence.

Later, six additional units were sent to assist, bringing the total number of firefighting units engaged in the operation to 11.

Firefighters were continuing their efforts to contain the fire when this report was filed.

However, the cause of the fire could not be immediately determined.