A fire erupted this past Saturday at the Saturnino Lora Torres Provincial Clinical Surgical Teaching Hospital, the leading medical facility in Santiago de Cuba, according to a social media post by communicator Yosmany Mayeta Labrada.
On Facebook, he reported, "Firefighters and the communist leadership are already at the Provincial Saturnino Lora Hospital following a fire report."
Earlier, he had shared, "I've been informed that a ward at the Provincial Hospital in Santiago de Cuba has caught fire."
Mayeta also posted several images depicting firefighters at the scene; however, he did not provide additional details.
In the comments, a user named Mayorcita con flow mentioned, "It was the therapy ward, an air conditioner caught fire. I saw it myself, there was a lot of chaos as patients were being moved from the therapy area, but at least the situation was controlled with the patients."
Similarly, Jenny Mosquera expressed her concern, "The therapy ward? The one that should be the best maintained? The one that can't afford to relocate critically ill patients?"
Meanwhile, Maria Claudia Bolaños Rodríguez noted, "Two ambulances arrived at the military hospital, one small and one large, the latter equipped with doctors and nurses. After a few minutes, the smaller one left with people. I'm not sure if it's related."
A nurse confirmed to CiberCuba that the fire incident took place in the intermediate therapy ward, which housed patients from that section as well as those from the intensive care unit, the latter affected by leaks from the floor above.
"The compressor of an air conditioner was the source of the fire, but fortunately, there were no serious consequences. The patients were swiftly evacuated," she explained.
On social media, some users responded with sarcasm, suggesting the fire might have been a form of "disinfection," alluding to previous reports of bedbugs and cockroaches infesting the wards.
“Perhaps it was a controlled fire to disinfect,” remarked user Rodríguez López Lorena.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Hospital Fire in Santiago de Cuba
What caused the fire at Saturnino Lora Torres Hospital?
The fire was caused by the compressor of an air conditioner that caught fire.
Were there any casualties in the hospital fire?
No, there were no serious consequences as the patients were evacuated immediately.
How did social media users react to the fire?
Some users responded with irony, suggesting the fire might have been a method of disinfecting the hospital wards.