The morning in Cartagena began with alarming events: a fire suddenly broke out at Hospital Universitario Santa Lucía. The flames quickly spread through one of the six modules of the medical complex, with thick smoke and tongues of fire visible from a considerable distance. The wind intensified the blaze, making the firefighters’ job even more difficult.
The first emergency calls came in around 7:25 a.m. Within minutes, authorities received more than thirty calls from worried witnesses. Firefighters and rescue teams promptly arrived at the scene to take control of the situation and prevent the fire from spreading further.
Patients and medical staff were present in the affected area. Evacuation took place amid haste and anxiety, but everyone was removed from danger as quickly as possible. At this time, there are no reports of injuries or casualties, though the situation remained tense for several hours.
The flames engulfed the roof and facades of one of the hospital buildings. Emergency crews worked tirelessly to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the facility. The wind made extinguishing efforts much more challenging, fanning the blaze and spreading smoke throughout the neighborhood.
As a result of the incident, part of the hospital complex is temporarily inaccessible to patients and staff. City authorities and hospital management have decided to temporarily close the affected module until all necessary work to eliminate the consequences of the fire and check the building structures is completed.
Firefighters continue working on site to fully extinguish any remaining hotspots and prevent potential reignition. Additional inspections of all hospital premises are expected to be carried out during the day to ensure it is safe for patients and staff to return.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Specialists will begin their investigation once the blaze is fully extinguished. The authorities of Cartagena have urged residents to remain calm and avoid approaching the hospital grounds so as not to interfere with the work of emergency services.
The situation at Santa Lucía Hospital remains under control, although the aftermath of the incident is still being assessed. An official statement from the hospital administration and city authorities is expected in the coming hours.
