Cape Town – The Gauteng Health Department is investigating after a fire broke out at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Johannesburg in the early hours of Monday.
Reports indicated that no one was injured.
According to EWN, at least 18 patients and a body had to be transferred to other areas of the hospital as a safety precaution.
The fire started at a wendy house used as the temporary storage area for Cover-19 medical waste and an in-transit corpse area.
“Thankfully, there were no patients or staff casualties. Eighteen patients and one corpse that were in separate temporary structures close to where the fire broke out had to be moved to other areas of the hospital as a safety precaution,” The Citizen quoted Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson, Kwara Kekana as saying.
The fire affected structures outside the casualty area of the hospital which includes the special temporary isolation unit and a tent used for examining sick or injured people, News24 reported.
According to City Press, the Steve Biko Academic Hospital is the third public health facility to catch fire in just over a year.
In February 2021, the Carletonville Hospital caught fire and about R20 million worth of equipment was destroyed. At the time, the department said that the fire was because of arson, the report said.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
