A fire broke out at the University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Ermita, Manila on Monday morning, affecting its outpatient department (OPD).

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire started in a room on the second floor of the Central Block building, affecting the hospital’s audio-visual room, aside from the OPD.

The first alarm was raised at 6:07 a.m., then the second alarm at 6:21 a.m. The BFP declared the fire was under control at 6:47 a.m. and fire out at 7:08 a.m.

The patients were allowed to return to the OPD at 7:23 a.m.

The Department of Health (DOH) said it is on standby to receive patient transfers from the UP-PGH.

Ambulances inbound to the hospital were advised to coordinate for possible diversion to other hospitals, the DOH added. (Philippine News Agency)