Hanoi (VNA) - Over 300 patients and their relatives were evacuated after a fire broke out on September 6 in one of the buildings at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila.
Authorities said the blaze broke out at 5:56am local time and spread to the hospital’s outpatient unit. Thirteen firetrucks were mobilised to extinguish the fire which was placed under control at 7:08am.
According to Alejandro Ramos, chief of the Manila Fire District intelligence and investigation unit, an overheated air-conditioning unit at the doctors’ quarters at the main building of the hospital could have caused the fire.
The PGH management canceled consultations and laboratory tests. However, its outpatient unit was reopened after a few hours.
Philippine Health Secretary Ted Herbosa has directed all hospitals to conduct a thorough inspection of their buildings to prevent fire incidents.
Twenty-two hospitals run by the Department of Health are ready to receive patients from the PGH if necessary, he said./.
