Cape Town – A fire broke out at the Emergency Unit of Tembisa Hospital on Saturday evening, but it has since been extinguished.
Ekurhuleni Mayor Alderman Nkosindiphile Xhakaza confirmed that there were no fatalities or injuries and that all 48 patients from the affected emergency section were safely accounted for, SABC News reported.
Firefighters and Gauteng Emergency Medical Services remain on site to monitor the situation, while a joint operations centre has been established with disaster management teams.
Our teams are attending to the fire situation at Tembisa Hospital. A full update will be provided later pic.twitter.com/xRNvwNoNTB
— Panyaza Lesufi (@Lesufi) April 19, 2025
The cause of the fire is still unknown.
The Citizen also reported that the fire began just before 6pm, prompting a swift response from local firefighters and emergency personnel.
According to Motalatale Modiba, the Department of Health’s Head of Communication, all patients in the Accident and Emergency Unit were safely evacuated to other areas within the hospital.
NOW HAPPENING: Tembisa Hospital Engulfed in Flames, Cause Unknown**
Tembisa, Gauteng – A devastating fire broke out at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital on April 19, 2025, leaving the community in shock and authorities scrambling to respond. The blaze, reported in the late… pic.twitter.com/Y3tAaWLxH7
— PSAFLIVE (@PSAFLIVE) April 19, 2025
“The reports that we have now are that all patients who were at the Accident and Emergency Unit have been safely evacuated into a safer area within the hospital,” the report quoted Madiba as saying.
No injuries or fatalities were reported, and the facility remains under assessment to determine further risks.
The hospital is currently not receiving new patients and will remain on divert until further notice. An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.
