A fire broke out in the accident and emergency unit of Tembisa Hospital today, prompting an immediate response from Gauteng firefighters and emergency management services.
According to initial reports, all patients have been successfully evacuated to safer areas within the hospital facility.
Gauteng Health Department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba confirmed the incident, stating: “All patients who were at the accident emergency unit have been safely evacuated to a safer area within the hospital. We will share an update later once we have collected more information.”Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has acknowledged the situation and promised a full update on the developing story.
The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time, and authorities have not yet assessed the extent of the damage to the emergency unit.
This incident comes at a challenging time for the provincial healthcare system, which has been working to improve emergency response capabilities across its facilities.
Hospital staff are being commended for their quick action in ensuring patient safety during the evacuation. No casualties have been reported in connection with the blaze.
Emergency services remain on the scene as they work to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to other sections of the hospital.