Pictures from responders.

 

A fire broke out at Udon Thani Hospital, forcing nurses and staff to evacuate patients in a dramatic rescue operation. The blaze, which started on the second floor of the hospital’s seven-storey administration building, was brought under control before it could spread further. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported.

 

At approximately 22:45, emergency services received reports of a fire at the outpatient and administration building of Udon Thani Hospital. Firefighters from Udon Thani Municipality, along with rescue teams, rushed to the scene, where they found thick black smoke billowing from the second floor.

 

The fire originated in the hospital’s pharmacy room and was spreading upwards towards the third floor. As the flames intensified, medical staff and nurses scrambled to evacuate patients, moving them away from the affected area as quickly as possible.

 

Firefighters worked to contain the fire, using  water hoses lines, to prevent it from spreading further. Within a fairly short period, they successfully extinguished the flames, although efforts continued to clear the smoke and monitor for potential flare-ups.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit in the control panel of an electronic rmedicine dispenser, recently installed at the hospital.

 

Pol. Col. Phattanawong Chanphon, Chief of Udon Thani Police Station, arrived at the scene to oversee the investigation. He confirmed that the blaze originated in the pharmacy room on the second floor, where computer servers and  electronic equipment were damaged by fire.

Deputy Director of Udon Thani Hospital, Dr. Olarn Wiwattanachang, assured the public that while the fire caused damage to certain areas, the hospital remains operational and is expected to resume normal services.

 

Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess the extent of the damage.

 

-- 2025-03-19

 

Update on this incident is contained here;