No injuries, fatalities after fire incident at Sally Mugabe hospital – police
By Auther Chimbgwa
The fire that engulfed the rooftop of a patients’ ward at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital Saturday did not cause any injuries or fatalities to patients, according to police.
Confirming the incident on their X handle, police said the fire started at 11.50am.
Fire fighters battled the fire until it was put out.
“Emergency protocols were swiftly activated and all patients in the affected areas were evacuated. No injuries or fatalities have been reported,” police said on their official X handle.
“Investigations are currently underway to determine the cause of the fire.”
Police did not give details on the extent of the damage.
Harare mayor Jacob Mafume also confirmed the incident, saying the fire had “been successfully contained”.
Speaking at the scene of the fire incident, Mafume said that the fire started at the rooftop of one of the wards at the hospital building where “archived records were stored in line with legal requirements”.
“The roof also housed about 10 solar panels that powered the laboratory,” Mafume said. The mayor was accompanied by the Chief Director of the Department of Civil Protection, Nathan Nkomo.
Images and videos of smoke billowing from the hospital went viral on social media.
The ward that was damaged by the fire is above the Intensive Care Unit.
