Hospital Fire in Camagüey Forces Emergency Evacuation of Critical Patients

A fire broke out on Monday at the “Amalia Simoni Argilagos” Provincial Clinical Surgical Hospital in Camagüey, necessitating the urgent relocation of critically ill patients to another healthcare facility in the city. The blaze erupted around 9 a.m. due to an electrical overload in the hospital's generator transformer, according to a statement released by the hospital's management on social media.

Three critically ill patients were safely moved to the “Manuel Ascunce Domenech” Provincial Hospital, also located in Camagüey. The transfer was executed with "absolute success, without any incidents, while ensuring the utmost safety of our patients," stated Dr. Lilianny María Hidalgo Ruiz, the general director of “Amalia Simoni” Hospital, in an official note.

“Swift and decisive action was taken,” with fire department teams, the Electric Company, and the General Health Directorate responding promptly to the scene, the report detailed. The fire was contained and electricity was restored in under three hours, a "record time," Hidalgo Ruiz remarked.

The hospital's management confirmed that "the situation is under control" and all systems are functioning “normally.” The incident was first reported earlier through Facebook posts. Before the hospital officially addressed the situation, independent journalist José Luis Tan Estrada confirmed the relocation of the critical patients due to the fire.

In comments on his post, several individuals expressed concern about the outdated and increasingly deteriorated state of hospital generators in Cuba, exacerbated by years of overuse due to nearly constant blackouts. “All those generators are hanging by a thread,” Tan Estrada noted in response to a follower.

One user pointed out, “These are emergency-use equipment, not meant for continuous and prolonged use as they have been subjected to, and without proper maintenance, they can’t hold up any longer. That's why urgent changes are needed to prevent total collapse.” In the early 2000s, the Cuban regime began importing generators to mitigate the energy crisis. However, over the years, persistent issues with the national electrical system, lack of upkeep, and replacements have led to significant wear and malfunctions in these vital hospital units.

This Monday's incident occurs amid a highly tense environment, with the nation teetering on the brink of an energy collapse, following a week marked by a widespread blackout lasting several days, which followed another in the eastern region.

Ongoing breakdowns of thermoelectric plants keep the National Electric System (SEN) in a state of perpetual instability. The Electric Union (UNE) reported that the previous day saw service disruptions for 24 hours, with a generation deficit reaching 1,981 MW during peak demand. Far from improving, the forecast for Monday predicts a situation as dire or worse than the previous day, with blackouts exceeding 1,900 MW during peak hours.

The population is at a breaking point, frustrated and outraged by the energy crisis, shortages of food and other essential goods, and the deterioration of basic services. This discontent was visible during protests like the one in Gibara, Holguín, early Sunday morning, where residents took to the darkened streets with pots and flashlights, demanding authorities address the community's urgent needs.