A fire incident occurred at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila, triggering immediate evacuation and transfer of patients from four affected wards on Wednesday afternoon. The fire, which ignited around 3 p.m., quickly escalated to a second alarm by 3:11 p.m., but was successfully brought under control by 3:45 p.m., thanks to the rapid response of at least 13 fire trucks.
Dr. Jonas Del Rosario, a spokesperson for the hospital, confirmed that patients impacted by the fire were relocated to other safe wards and units within the PGH premises. The Department of Health (DOH) was prepared to facilitate patient transfers to other government hospitals if necessary; however, PGH managed the situation effectively, ensuring all patients continued to receive care within its unaffected facilities. Health Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo announced that as of 6 p.m., PGH had reported it could handle patient care internally, with the DOH ready to assist further if required.
The fire reportedly started in the audio-visual room of the Department of Medicine, spreading to the nearby back portion of Ward 1, and subsequently affecting Wards 2, 3, and 4. Although the blaze prompted the evacuation of patients due to heavy smoke, no injuries were reported. The hospital took measures to ensure the safety of both patients and staff, with some patients and medical personnel temporarily positioned in the evacuation area of the hospital’s parking lot until the facility was declared safe.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, and in the wake of the incident, the DOH has instructed all its hospitals in the National Capital Region (NCR) to revisit their fire evacuation plans and conduct thorough risk analyses aimed at enhancing fire prevention measures. This incident coincides with Fire Prevention Month, underscoring the importance of stringent fire safety protocols in healthcare facilities.
Traffic disruptions around the PGH, particularly along Padre Faura Taft, were reported, but conditions began to improve as fire trucks cleared the area. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) noted moderately heavy traffic during the incident but traffic flow resumed normalcy shortly after the operation concluded.