Makeni, Sierra Leone – A fire broke out at dawn in the Special Care Baby Unit of the main regional referral hospital in Makeni, Northern Sierra Leone, forcing the evacuation of 16 newborns.
According to the hospital’s Medical Superintendent, Dr. J.K. Sesay, all babies were safely transferred to the Catholic-run Holy Spirit Hospital, and no casualties were reported.
Despite the severity of the incident, Makeni’s Fire Force was unable to respond, citing malfunctioning fire engines. Nearly five hours after the fire started, hospital staff were still battling the flames themselves.
Dr. Sesay attributed the fire to the country’s ongoing electricity supply issues, which have caused disruptions nationwide in recent months.
The incident raises fresh concerns over emergency response capabilities and the reliability of Sierra Leone’s power infrastructure.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the cause of the fire or any measures to prevent future occurrences.
Source: Umaru Fofana
