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Piatra Neamț hospital fire

Coordinates: 46°55′43.5″N 26°22′26.1″E / 46.928750°N 26.373917°E / 46.928750; 26.373917
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Piatra Neamț hospital fire
Makeshift memorial for the victims of the fire
Map
Date14 November 2020
Time~18:30 (EET)
Duration25 minutes
VenuePiatra Neamț Emergency Hospital
LocationPiatra Neamț, Neamț County, Romania
Coordinates46°55′43.5″N 26°22′26.1″E / 46.928750°N 26.373917°E / 46.928750; 26.373917
TypeFire
CauseShort circuit to a syringe pump (under investigation)
Deaths10
Non-fatal injuries4

On 14 November 2020, around 18:30 EET, a fire broke out in the COVID-19 ward of the Piatra Neamț Emergency Hospital in Piatra Neamț, Romania.[1] The fire killed ten people[2] and injured another four, including two doctors.[1] All the deceased people were patients receiving treatment for COVID-19.[1] Many in the ward were on ventilators.[3] The fire brought back to the public's attention the state of the Romanian health system, as well as the political interference in hospital management.[4]

The hospital fire at Piatra Neamț was followed by other deadly ones, more precisely at Bucharest in January 2021 and at Constanța in October 2021.

Fire

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The fire broke out on the second floor of Piatra Neamț Emergency Hospital, where the COVID-19 ward was located.[3] Initially, the medical staff intervened, trying to extinguish the fire and help the patients. Firefighters responded with five fire trucks and a ladder. According to them, the fire had a "very, very fast evolution".[5] Sources in the investigation said the fire broke out from a syringe pump and quickly spread to the oxygen source.[6] A strong deflagration followed, and the fire spread to the room. The fire was extinguished in about 25 minutes.[5] Nelu Tătaru, the Minister of Health, declared that during the fire eight ICU beds were completely burned.[5]

Victims

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Ten people were killed in the fire, three women and seven men.[7] All were patients with COVID-19 and were between 67 and 86 years old.[8] Eight of the victims were killed in the room where the fire broke out,[3] and two others died of respiratory failure while being evacuated from the adjoining room.[6] A doctor on ward round who tried to save the patients from the flames was critically injured after his protective equipment caught fire.[1] He suffered burns on 40% of his body surface and fourth-degree burns on his limbs.[9] He was brought to Bucharest during the night of 14–15 November and was prepared at the Floreasca Emergency Hospital to be transported by military aircraft to Queen Astrid Military Hospital in Brussels.[9] Three more medical staff – a doctor and two nurses – received burn care, but their condition was good and they did not need hospitalization.[5] Six patients from the adjoining room were transferred to the modular hospital in Lețcani, Iași County, for proper treatment.[6] Three of them were in serious condition, but none suffered burns.[10]

Investigation

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The Prosecutor's Office attached to the Neamț Tribunal opened an in rem case for culpable homicide. Subsequently, the investigation was taken over by the General Prosecutor's Office. The investigation was led by Marius Iacob, a prosecutor who in the past dealt with the investigations into the Colectiv nightclub fire and the Giulești Maternity Hospital fire.[11]

Dan Iamandi, the head of the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, ordered the creation of two commissions regarding the Piatra Neamț fire: one of the commissions will determine the probable cause of the fire, and the second will verify the observance of the authorization conditions.[12] The hospital obtained a fire safety permit before 1990.[13] Marius Filip, director of the Standards Unit within the National Authority for Quality Management in Health, stated in a telephone interview with Digi24 that the Piatra Neamț Emergency Hospital had irregularities in terms of staff and patient safety.[citation needed]

According to George Lazăr, the prefect of Neamț County, the ICU for patients with COVID-19 was moved from the third floor to the second floor of the building on 14 November, a few hours before the fire broke out, without approval and without notifying the authorities.[14] His claims were contradicted by the hospital manager, according to which the Public Health Directorate had given its approval for the operation of the ICU on the second floor of the medical unit.[15] However, on the evening of 15 November, the Neamț Public Health Directorate issued a statement in which it showed that the reconfiguration of the ICU and the relocation of COVID-19-positive patients, from the third floor to the second floor, was carried out without approval.[16]

Reactions

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President Klaus Iohannis sent a condolence message to the families and prayed for the victims at the Jesuit Church in Sibiu.[17] He also stressed the need to reform the public health system.[17] Prime Minister Ludovic Orban said he was shocked by the tragedy and promised the identification and the prosecution of the guilty ones.[18]

The Minister of Health, Nelu Tătaru, made an emergency visit to Piatra Neamț to assess the situation at the County Hospital. He announced that the hospitals subordinated to the local authorities will be placed under the coordination of the Ministry of Health.[19] Tătaru also stated that there is a collective guilt for the Piatra Neamț fire and that an urgent reevaluation of the entire Romanian medical system is needed.[20]

After a working meeting at the Victoria Palace, Orban announced that, starting with 16 November, joint teams of the Public Health Directorates and the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations will carry out controls in all ICUs at national level to check the installations and the conditions for the commissioning of medical equipment.[21]

Mara Togănel, the prefect of Mureș County, announced that the health units in Mureș County will come to support the Piatra Neamț Emergency Hospital with ICU beds, ventilators, monitors and syringe pumps.[11]

  • The gate of the hospital near to the surgical pavilion that includes the ICU department, on the third day after the fire

Political

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The Social Democratic Party and the Save Romania Union announced the suspension of any election campaign action for their parties out of respect for the victims of the fire.[11] The National Liberal Party postponed the governing program launch event, scheduled for 16 November.[22]

International

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At the end of the Angelus, Pope Francis sent a message of compassion and prayed for the victims of the Piatra Neamț fire.[23] Condolence messages were also conveyed by politicians from Austria, France, Hungary, Israel, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Turkey.[24][25][26] The mayor of Chișinău, Ion Ceban, laid a wreath at the Romanian Embassy in Moldova as a tribute to the victims of the fire.[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Ghirda, Vadim; Nikšić, Sabina (14 November 2020). "Romania: Fire in COVID-19 intensive care unit kills 10". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  2. ^ Ilie, Luiza (14 November 2020). Stonestreet, John (ed.). "Fire kills 10 at Romanian COVID-19 hospital". Reuters. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Covid: Romania hospital blaze kills at least 10 infected patients". BBC News. 14 November 2020. Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  4. ^ Sofronia, Dan (15 November 2020). "Vârtejul de cauze politice și manageriale din spatele tragediei de la spitalul din Neamț: 8 directori în 11 luni" [The whirlwind of political and managerial reasons behind the Neamț hospital fire: 8 directors in 11 months]. Adevărul (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d Păvălucă, Luana, ed. (15 November 2020). "UPDATE Anchete după incendiul de la Spitalul Piatra Neamț. 10 pacienți au murit, 6 au fost salvați. Medicul cu arsuri, dus în Belgia" [UPDATE Investigations after the Piatra Neamț Hospital fire. 10 pacients have died, 6 have been saved. The medic with burns, sent to Belgium.]. Digi24 (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  6. ^ a b c S. P. (15 November 2020). "Filmul tragediei de la SJU Piatra Neamț: aproape 30 de minute de coșmar, în care au murit 10 oameni" [The film of the Piatra Neamț ECH: almost 30 nightmarish minutes, where 10 people had died]. Știrile Pro TV (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  7. ^ Radu, Cristina; Hopulele, Cătălin; Istrate, Theodor (15 November 2020). "Trei femei și șapte bărbați morți în incendiul de la Spitalul Județean Piatra Neamț. Victimele, pacienți cu COVID cu vârste între 67 și 86 de ani" [Three women and seven men dead in the fire from the Piatra Neamț County Hospital. The victims, COVID pacients ages 67 to 87]. Libertatea (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Lista celor decedați în incendiul de la Spitalul Județean Piatra Neamț" [The list of the deceased in the Piatra Neamț County Hospital]. Mesagerul de Neamț (in Romanian). 15 November 2020. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  9. ^ a b Păvălucă, Luana, ed. (15 November 2020). "Medicul rănit în incendiul din Piatra Neamț este transferat în Belgia. Aeronava a decolat de la Baza 90 din Otopeni" [The injured medic in the Piatra Neamț fire is being transferred to Belgium. The aircraft has lifted off from the Otopeni 90 Base]. Digi24 (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  10. ^ Laura Buciu (15 November 2020). "Supraviețuitorii incendiului ATI Neamț: Pacienții duși la Lețcani nu au arsuri. Trei sunt în stare gravă din cauza Covid-19". Mediafax. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  11. ^ a b c "VIDEO Procurorii au început cercetarea la fața locului în cazul incendiului de la Spitalul județean din Piatra Neamț" [VIDEO The prosecutors have started the on site investigation in the case of the Piatra Neamț county Hospital fire]. G4 Media (in Romanian). 15 November 2020. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  12. ^ "Incendiu la Spitalul Piatra Neamț – Șeful IGSU: O comisie va verifica dacă s-au făcut modificări care impuneau autorizare ISU / Orban: Din declarațiile managerului se știe că erau prevăzute lucrări de instalații pentru mărirea numărului de paturi la ATI" [Fire at the Piatra Neamț Hospital – The chief of the IGSU: A commission will verify if there had been any modifications done that imposed an authorization from ISU / Orban: From the manager's statements it is known that appliance work was foreseen for increasing the number of ICU beds]. News.ro (in Romanian). 15 November 2020. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  13. ^ Marina, Georgiana, ed. (15 November 2020). "Spitalul din Neamț are autorizație de incendiu mai veche de 30 de ani" [The Neamț hospital has a fire authorization older than 30 years]. Digi24 (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  14. ^ Cristescu, George-Andrei (15 November 2020). "Prefectul de Neamț: Secția ATI pentru COVID-19 a fost mutată sâmbătă de la etajul trei la etajul doi, fără informarea DSP. Câteva ore mai târziu a ars" [The prefect of Neamț: The ICU section for COVID-19 was moved on Saturday from the third floor to the second floor, without informing the DSP. A few hours later, it burnt down]. Adevărul (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  15. ^ Marinescu, Florin (15 November 2020). "Managerul spitalului județean îl contrazice pe prefectul de Neamț și susține că exista aviz DSP pentru funcționarea secției ATI la etajul 2, acolo unde a izbucnit incendiul" [The manager of the county hospital contradicts the prefect of Neamț and claims that there was a DSP warrant for the functioning of the ICU section on the second floor, where the fire ignited]. G4 Media (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  16. ^ Cristina Radu (15 November 2020). "DSP Neamț: Spitalul Județean nu avea aviz pentru modificările la etajul care a ars sâmbătă! "Ne-au anunțat doar verbal, nu am știut că au mutat pacienții"". Libertatea.
  17. ^ a b Buciu, Laura (15 November 2020). "Iohannis, mesaj la ieșirea din biserică, la Sibiu, înainte de intrarea orașului în carantină: Ne-am rugat pentru victimele incendiului" [Iohannis, message when getting out of the church, at Sibiu, before the entrance of the city under quarantine: We've prayed for the victims of the fire]. Mediafax (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  18. ^ B. C. (15 November 2020). "Orban, după incendiul de la Piatra Neamț: "Le promit românilor că vinovații vor fi identificați"" [Orban, after the fire from Piatra Neamț: "I promise the Romanians that the culprits will be identified"]. Știrile Pro TV (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  19. ^ N. G. (14 November 2020). "Nelu Tătaru: Spitalul din Piatra Neamț va fi trecut în coordonarea Ministerului Sănătății" [Nelu Tătaru: The hospital from Piatra Neamț will be still under the coordination of the Ministry of Health]. Ziare.com (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  20. ^ Dulgheru, Georgiana (15 November 2020). "Nelu Tătaru, întrebat dacă se simte vinovat pentru ce s-a întâmplat la Neamț: "Suntem toți vinovați în această țară"" [Nelu Tătaru, asked if he felt guilty for what happened in Neamț: "We are all guilty in this country"]. Aleph News (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  21. ^ Popescu, Ana (15 November 2020). "LIVE Zece morți și șapte răniți grav în urma incendiului de la Spitalul județean Neamț. Toți cei opt pacienți dintr-un salon ATI, bolnavi de Covid și intubați, au murit în incendiu / În mai puțin de 24 de ore de la tragedie, au început atacurile politice" [LIVE Ten dead and seven severely injured after the fire at the Neamț county hospital. All of the eight pacients from an ICU salon, sick of Covid and intubated, have died in the fire / In less than 24 hours from the tragedy, the political attacks had begun]. G4 Media (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  22. ^ Petrescu, Ana (15 November 2020). "Orban anunță că PNL amână lansarea programului de guvernare care trebuia să aibă loc luni. Premierul: Am transmis către toți colegii noștri să se oprească două zile din campania electorală" [Orban announces that the PNL postpones the launch of the governing program that was supposed to take place on Monday. The prime minister: I've told our colleagues to stop from the election campaign for two days]. News.ro (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  23. ^ Marina, Georgiana, ed. (15 November 2020). "Papa Francisc s-a rugat pentru victimele incendiului de la Piatra Neamț și a transmis un mesaj de compasiune" [Pope Francis had prayed for the victims of the Piatra Neamț fire and sent a message of compassion]. Digi24 (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  24. ^ Duca, Dan (15 November 2020). "Mesaje de condoleanțe și din afara țării, după tragedia de la Piatra Neamț: "Suntem alături de România"" [Condolence messages even from outside the country, after the Piatra Neamț tragedy: "We are with Romania"]. Aleph News (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  25. ^ "Emmanuel Macron i-a scris lui Klaus Iohannis. Își exprimă solidaritatea după tragedia de la Piatra Neamț". Digi24. 15 November 2020.
  26. ^ "Incendiul de la spitalul din Piatra Neamţ: Preşedintele Ungariei şi ministrul de externe au transmis mesaje de condoleanţe" [Piatra Neamț hospital fire: the President of Hungary and the foreign minister sent condolence messages]. Agerpres (in Romanian). 15 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  27. ^ "Coroane de flori, la Ambasada României de la Chișinău, în memoria victimelor tragediei de la Piatra Neamț" [Flower crowns, at the Embassy of Romania from Chișinău, in the memory the victims of the Piatra Neamț]. Europa FM (in Romanian). 15 November 2020. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
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