Blaze leaves two patients injured, ten staff treated for smoke inhalation and forces 90 patients to be moved from the second floor A patient’s cigarette is believed to have sparked the dramatic fire that broke out at Torrevieja University Hospital on Friday, leaving two patients injured, one of them seriously burned, and forcing the evacuation of an entire hospital floor. The blaze erupted shortly after midday on the hospital’s second floor, triggering a major emergency response and the relocation of 90 patients to other areas
of the medical centre. According to sources familiar with the investigation, the fire started after a patient who was using an oxygen cylinder allegedly entered an empty room with a cigarette and a lighter. Moments later, when the cigarette was lit, a flash fire broke out, quickly leading to flames and heavy smoke. The patient suffered second- and third-degree burns to 40% of his body and had to be airlifted by helicopter to the burns unit at La Fe Hospital in Valencia. A second patient,
who was being treated near the affected area, was transferred to intensive care after inhaling smoke. Ten hospital workers, including healthcare, security and cleaning staff, were also treated after helping with rescue and evacuation efforts. Among them was a nursing assistant who was admitted to intensive care, although her condition was said to be improving. Entire hospital wing cleared The fire broke out at 12.09pm in room 277, located in the right wing of the second floor. Thick smoke spread rapidly through the area, forcing
hospital officials to activate the evacuation plan. The affected floor includes key departments such as Maternity, Oncology and Internal Medicine. A total of 90 patients were moved to other rooms inside the hospital while firefighters assessed the damage and worked to make the area safe. Five fire crews from Torrevieja and Orihuela rushed to the scene. The flames were brought under control at around 1.20pm, but crews remained at the hospital throughout the afternoon to ventilate the building and clear smoke and gases. The fire
was finally declared extinguished at around 7pm. The Guardia Civil and Local Police also attended the scene. Valencia’s regional health minister, Marciano Gómez, visited the hospital to check on those affected and monitor the emergency response. Hospital services disrupted The incident forced the hospital to reorganise part of its healthcare activity. Emergency services continued operating as normal, but scheduled appointments in Radiology and Rehabilitation, both located in the affected area, were suspended. Radiology is expected to resume activity on Monday, while Rehabilitation appointments will remain
cancelled on Monday and Tuesday. Additional resources were also mobilised from other hospitals in the south of Alicante province, including Orihuela and Elche, to help cover any urgent needs while Torrevieja Hospital works to restore full service in the damaged areas.
Torrevieja University Hospital fire, cigarette spark, evacuation, second floor, oxygen cylinder, La Fe Hospital burns unit, Marciano Gómez