Birmingham mosque turns into temporary morgue as COVID-19 claims thousands of lives

Dozens of coffins stored inside a temporary mosque have given a rare insight into the scale of the coronavirus crisis which has now claimed the lives of 16,060 people across the UK 

<p>Images show the coffins placed on top of each other inside the mortuary built on the car park of Central Jamia Mosque Ghamkol Sharif in Small Heath, Birmingham. This comes as the country continues to grapple with the scale of the pandemic.<br />&nbsp;</p>

Images show the coffins placed on top of each other inside the mortuary built on the car park of Central Jamia Mosque Ghamkol Sharif in Small Heath, Birmingham. This comes as the country continues to grapple with the scale of the pandemic.

<p>In an image, specially trained staff wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) were seen removing transparent plastic sheets around the coffins and inspecting them.<br />&nbsp;</p>

In an image, specially trained staff wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) were seen removing transparent plastic sheets around the coffins and inspecting them.

<p>The sobering scenes come just three weeks after the mosque in the West Midlands erected the tent, which contains five fridges, in an effort to deal with the increasing death toll among the Islamic faith.<br />&nbsp;</p>

The sobering scenes come just three weeks after the mosque in the West Midlands erected the tent, which contains five fridges, in an effort to deal with the increasing death toll among the Islamic faith.

<p>A specially trained volunteer wearing protective clothing circulates the temporary tent at the Central Jamia Mosque Ghamkol Sharif.<br />&nbsp;</p>

A specially trained volunteer wearing protective clothing circulates the temporary tent at the Central Jamia Mosque Ghamkol Sharif.

<p>Specially trained volunteers at the religious establishment have been assisting in the mosque's efforts to deal with the increasing death toll.</p>

Specially trained volunteers at the religious establishment have been assisting in the mosque's efforts to deal with the increasing death toll.

<p>The distressing pictures from inside the morgue, which can hold up to 150 bodies at a time, are believed to be one of the first glimpses inside a makeshift morgue in Britain.<br />&nbsp;</p>

The distressing pictures from inside the morgue, which can hold up to 150 bodies at a time, are believed to be one of the first glimpses inside a makeshift morgue in Britain.

<p>A member of staff enters the temporary mortuary which was constructed three weeks ago.</p>

A member of staff enters the temporary mortuary which was constructed three weeks ago.

<p>A specially trained volunteer puts on gloves as he prepares to enter the makeshift morgue in Birmingham.</p>

A specially trained volunteer puts on gloves as he prepares to enter the makeshift morgue in Birmingham.

<p><br />The mosque has seen a number of volunteers help inside the morgue as the country is struggling to fight the coronavirus pandemic.</p>

The mosque has seen a number of volunteers help inside the morgue as the country is struggling to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

<p><br />Volunteers at the religious establishment have been picking up bodies from hospitals and readying them for burial.</p>

Volunteers at the religious establishment have been picking up bodies from hospitals and readying them for burial.

<p><br />In a devastated state, the car park outside the Central Jamia Mosque Ghamkol Sharif in Birmingham has turned into a temporary mortuary.</p>

In a devastated state, the car park outside the Central Jamia Mosque Ghamkol Sharif in Birmingham has turned into a temporary mortuary.