Newborns evacuated as fire hits part of PGH

MANILA – A fire broke out on the third floor of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) on Taft Avenue before dawn on Sunday, prompting the management of the government-run hospital to evacuate patients and transfer newborn babies to Sta. Ana Hospital.

According to the Public Information Office of Manila, the fire started at 12:41 a.m. and was declared fire out by the Manila Fire Department at 5:41 a.m.

“No casualty or injury was reported. Cause of the fire still under investigation,” it added.

In a radio interview, PGH spokesman Dr. Jonas del Rosario said 12 infants from the UP-PGH’s Neonatal ICU (NICU) were transferred to Sta. Ana Hospital.

Del Rosario said the fire also affected the nursery room for newborn babies.

In a statement, PGH Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi confirmed the fire started at around 1 a.m. in the ceiling of the Operating Room (OR) supply and autoclave room on the third floor and later involved the inflammable linen and drapes.

“It was contained within the area but thick smoke soon engulfed the adjoining floors and diffused into the pavilions. Fire was declared out at 5:41 a.m. No major OR equipment was damaged. Yet we have to assess the autoclave machines. A large volume of OR supplies was lost though. We are closing the Emergency Room and OR for now. We will assess the need to transfer patients,” he said.

Earlier reports from the Manila Fire Department (MFD) indicated the fire started at the operating room sanitization area on the third floor of the 8-story PGH central block building.

Though the cause of the fire remains under investigation, the MFD said estimated damage was placed at PHP300,000.

The fire reached the second alarm before it was put under control around 2:46 a.m., the MFD said.