Patients were evacuated following a blaze at National District Hospital in Bloemfontein. (Free State Health Department/Supplied)
Patients were evacuated after a fire broke out at National District Hospital in Bloemfontein on Sunday afternoon.
Free State health department spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said the blaze started outside the paediatric ward at about 15:20.
It quickly spread to nearby trees and to the first and second floors.
“This led to smoke spreading throughout the hospital. The hospital disaster plan was swiftly activated, and patients and staff were evacuated,” Mvambi added.
The Mangaung Metro Fire and Rescue Service and state and private emergency medical services were alerted.
Mvambi said 83 patients were in the affected wards at the time of the incident. Twenty-three were transferred to Botshabelo District Hospital and the remaining 60 were initially moved to Gateway Clinic.
They are being relocated to Universitas Academic Hospital, Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital, and MUCPP Health Centre.
“No one died or got injured as a result of this fire. All persons inside the hospital were accounted for,” Mvambi added.
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