BY SOLA OGUNDIPe & CHIOMA OBINNA
Patients at the EKO hospital yesterday escaped unhurt from a late afternoon fire which was said to have started in the surgical room on the thrid floor of the hospital.

The fire, which eye witnesses said started at exactly 3:15PM, caused a stampede. It was gathered that many of the patients are currently in shock.

According to the hospital management, an electric spark in an abandoned  room on the thrid floor was believed to have caused the fire which was quickly contained from spreading to other floors due to the timely intervention of the men of the Lagos State fire service.

An account by a patient believed to  be occupying a room on the third floor, she said she had gone to  have  her  bath   and   when   she  returned, saw  her  room  engulfed with  smoke which made her to immediately raise  alarm that drew the  attention  of  the  hospital  management.

Speaking to journalists at the scene,  the Joint Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. Sunny Kuku who confirmed that no life was lost in the incident.

Kuku who thanked God, for the safety of patients, said some patients who were still in shock, have been transfered to their Surulere branch of the hospital for further treatment.

Also, the Hospital’s  Corporate  Affairs  Manager,  Mr   Ade   Ayinla   told Vanguard  that  the timely response by the hospital staff who swung into action, put to use all the fire  extinguishers in  the  hospital.

Ayinla assured that  all patients transfered to the Surulere  branch are safe.

The   General  Manager  of  Lagos   State  Emergency  and  Management  Agency, Dr  Oke  Osuntolu said who led the team of the State Ambulance Services,: “ As  soon  as  we  received  the  emergency  call  from  the  hospital  we  rushed  down   here   with  10 – memeber team, as we  quickly swung  to action and  as  you  can  see the  fire  has  been  put  off  succesfully”

He  however,  urged that  the hospital management to take  greater  measures  in  the  future  such  as  having  stablishers that  put  down  voltage   in  all  the  rooms,  so  that  next  time  power   voltage   fluactuations   would  not  cause  such  a  fire  out  break  again.