No timetable for Cebu doctors university hospital reopening

After a fire prompted the evacuation of at least 200 of its patients Tuesday night, there is no timetable for now on when the Cebu Doctors University Hospital may reopen.

 

Hospital administrator Engineer Oscar Tuazon assured the public the 200 patients are safe, GMA Cebu's Jun Veliganio and Chona Carreon reported.

 

But when asked when the hospital would reopen, he said, "that is hard; we have to find out, we have to evaluate the extent of the damage."

 

For now, the hospital has not allowed patients to return until the affected areas have been cleaned up.

 

Arson investigators are also looking into how the fire started, and the extent of the damage to property.

 

Initial investigation showed the fire started past 8 p.m. at the second floor, and was finally put out at midnight.

 

An explosion was heard, startling and scaring some patients.

 

Some patients were carried out by hospital staff while others fled even if they had to carry bottles of dextrose.

 

Police secured the area and assisted nurses and doctors. — Joel Locsin/VC, GMA News

 

Firefighters had to use chemical foam to put out the fire.