Officials are calling for big industrial fans to remove smoke after a fire broke out at the Philippines General Hospital.
Firefighters have shut down one of the Philippines’ leading hospitals that evacuated dozens of people from the facility, which also treats coronavirus patients.
No casualties were reported in Sunday’s fire at the government-run Philippine General Hospital in the capital, Manila. The fire was extinguished five hours after the outbreak, at dawn.
PGH currently on fire. đ° pic.twitter.com/dKN6R66WRE
– đ˘ Tasty (@tasty_vive) May 15, 2021
His cause is unknown and the hospital authorities could not be contacted for comment.
Dr. Jay Germer, a professor at the University of the Philippines School of Medicine, said all hospital staff and patients were safe and considerate.
âThe problem now is smoke in the rooms,â he said.
Fire in PGH ORSA already extinguished. The problem now is smoke in the rooms. So far, all patients and staff are safe and accountable.
– Jay Germar, MD (@jvgermarmd) May 15, 2021
Vice President Leni Robredo called on Twitter for âbig industrial fansâ to eliminate the smoke caused by the fire.
Attractive for everyone with big industrial fans willing to lend them. PGH urgently needs them to dissipate the smoke that surrounded the hospital due to the fire. Thanks.
– Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) May 15, 2021
Some patients were taken to nearby hospitals, including two who needed surgery and 12 babies from the neonatal intensive care unit, CNN Philippines said, citing hospital officials.
Meanwhile, COVID-19-infected patients were evacuated to an intensive care unit and an emergency room in a separate hospital ward, the Rappler website reported.
âWe secured them there and made sure they couldnât mix with our patients who were not COVID,â said Dr. Jonas del Rosario, a hospital spokesman.
Facility staff said the fire started in an operating room supply area shortly after midnight.
The hospital has more than 1,300 beds and treats 600,000 patients a year, according to its website.
With more than 1.1 million infections and more than 19,000 deaths, the Philippines ranks second in Southeast Asia in terms of COVID-19 cases.
