A newborn girl came into the world healthy at the Dr. Gustavo Aldereguía Lima Provincial Hospital in Cienfuegos, even as the facility faced a serious fire emergency on Tuesday night. The hospital's General Director, Ling Denisse Santeiro Pérez, shared the news with the local publication, Periódico 5 de Septiembre.
The blaze erupted around 9:00 p.m. in the basement of the hospital's second floor, situated between the Intensive Care Unit and the psychiatry ward, specifically in the space between towers 3 and 4.
Firefighters managed to extinguish the flames within approximately twenty minutes. However, the fire inflicted significant damage to the emergency electrical circuit, impacting critical services such as the maternity, neonatal, and angiological departments, along with clinical and surgical ICUs, vacuum pumps, and compressors.
Amidst the crisis, a full-term patient was moved from the delivery area and successfully gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Both mother and child are reportedly in good health and recovering well.
At the time of the incident, the hospital had 311 patients, with 31 transferred to other facilities—such as the psychiatric hospital, pediatric hospital, and the Specialized Outpatient Center—and 79 moved internally to safer areas.
More than 12 patients were in critical condition during the fire, including eight who were on ventilators. Throughout the night, the hospital's electromedical and maintenance teams worked tirelessly to restore the compressors and vacuum pump, ensuring essential services could continue.
Approximately 12 meters of water supply piping to the inpatient, kitchen, and dining areas were damaged, but alternative measures were implemented to maintain services without interruption.
Since dawn, a commission led by the Vice Minister of Public Health, Dr. Julio Veliz Izquierdo, has been assisting the hospital in restoring affected services and mitigating the damage.
The emergency room and medical surgery area are still operational, although elective surgery consultations have been suspended and will be rescheduled. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by a Ministry of the Interior commission.
This incident occurs just four days after the Saturnino Lora Torres Provincial Hospital in Santiago de Cuba experienced a smaller fire due to a voltage surge overheating an air conditioner's compressor, necessitating the evacuation of 12 patients.
Both incidents highlight the chronic electrical infrastructure issues plaguing Cuban hospitals. The Aldereguía Lima Hospital had previously suffered a fire in July 2018, which damaged three of its five floors and affected 24 rooms and 85 medical devices, though fortunately, there were no human casualties.
"Thanks to the immediate activation of our emergency protocols, all necessary measures were taken within three hours to control the situation and ensure the safety of our patients and staff. Despite facing such a dangerous situation, the most important factor was the dedication and swift action of our team," said Santeiro Pérez.
Understanding the Impact of Hospital Fires in Cuba
What was the cause of the fire at the Cienfuegos hospital?
The exact cause of the fire at the Cienfuegos hospital is still under investigation by a commission from the Ministry of the Interior.
How did the hospital manage during the fire emergency?
The hospital successfully managed the fire emergency by activating their emergency protocols immediately, allowing them to take necessary actions within three hours to control the situation and ensure the safety of patients and staff.
Were there any injuries reported due to the fire?
There were no injuries reported among the patients or staff due to the fire at the hospital.