Early morning fire outbreak was reported at the Emergency and Accident Unit of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital (LTH), Ogbomoso, Oyo state, on Saturday, destroying structure, office equipment and academic books.
Tribune Online gathered that the fire outbreak started from an electric spark at about 5am in a pediatrics consultant office.
It was also gathered that some patients had to be rushed outside in the open to escape being burnt inside their wards.
“It was so early in the morning at about 5:00am or thereabout. It’s still dark as such. Some patients were quickly rushed out even with oxygen attached to them. However, by the time the day broke out, the patients were taken to another unit. All the roof was burnt and totally destroyed,” an eyewitness told our correspondent.
Tribune Online also learnt that the office where the fire started was razed down, including the roof, ceiling just as many academic research books, laptops, furniture and many other valuables were destroyed.
“The loss is in hundreds of millions of naira,” a staff member who spoke on condition of anonymity said.
“Patients numbering about 16 had to be quickly rushed out of the ward. Some of them were on oxygen but they escaped danger.”
“Staff of the teaching hospital rallied to put out the fire before fire brigade officers arrived to finally put out the fire”, the source said.
In a statement by the hospital’s management through its public relations officer (PRO), Omotayo Ogunleye, confirmed the incident.
The PRO, however, said that, “everything has been brought under control. There is no cause for alarm”.
“The management of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso wishes to state that the fire incident that occured early this morning as carried by some news media was put out without any remarkable damage to the hospital.
“Noting that no human damage was recorded in the incident, the Management wishes to state that investigation is still ongoing with regards to the cause of the incident.
“At the moment, light has been restored and work activities have resumed at the section where the fire incident took place.
“The Management wishes to thank all staff, Oyo State Fire Service and all other well wishers for their concerns and prompt response, noting that the fire incident raised no cause for alarm. Everyone is advised to go about their normal daily activities without fear”.
Tribune
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