Rome hospital fire leaves at least 4 dead

Rome
CNN
—

At least four people died and more than 200 people were evacuated after the devastating disaster fire The fire broke out near the morgue of the San Giovanni Evangelista Hospital in the Roman suburb of Tivoli late Friday night, authorities said. Italy Fire brigade.

The fire broke out in the basement between the morgue, clinic and kitchen area at approximately 10:30 PM local time (4:30 PM ET) and quickly spread to the emergency room area upstairs.

Eyewitnesses who were in the emergency room waiting for treatment said that the electricity was cut off and the fire appeared to be quickly consuming the entire ward, according to Italian press reports.

Two of the four victims died as a result of smoke inhalation, the third died of a heart attack, and the third died as a result of burns. The fire brigade said other bodies that were in the morgue at the time were also burned.

The evacuees included seven children and several newborns. A hospital spokesperson told CNN affiliate Sky24 that 134 evacuees were taken to nearby hospitals.

A fire department spokesman said that wiring in the building and some chemicals stored there may be among the possible causes of the fire.

Firefighters battled the blaze for about five hours and will conduct a thorough search for more victims once the building cools down.

The hospital, part of the city of Rome’s health system, was first built in 1337.