FIRE OUTBREAKS DAMAGES CHILDREN'S WARD, ICT UNIT AT MOTHER OF CHRIST SPECIALIST HOSPITAL

A fire outbreak on Sunday night affected parts of the Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital located within the Holy Ghost Cathedral premises, Ogui, Enugu, destroying important office and ICT equipment, and sections of the children’s ward. No life was lost in the incident as patients, newborn babies, and staff members were successfully evacuated.

Speaking in an interview with The Choice Flame Newspaper, the Hospital Administrator, Rev. Sr. Maria Chinaemerem Igwe IHM, said she suspected that the fire outbreak may have been caused by an electrical spark following unstable power supply on Sunday, May 10, 2026. According to her, electricity was repeatedly going on and off throughout the day, and some office equipment in the secretary’s office may have remained plugged in after work hours, which she believed could have triggered the fire incident.

According to her, the hospital offices had already been closed for the day when she received an urgent phone call around 10 p.m. informing her that her office block was on fire.

Rev. Sr. Maria explained that immediately she arrived at the scene, she noticed that the flames were already spreading rapidly through parts of the building. She said she quickly alerted members of staff, students, and residents nearby while also contacting the fire service for emergency assistance.

She stated that before the arrival of the firefighters, hospital workers and students made efforts to contain the fire by fetching water and attempting to stop the flames from extending to other sections of the hospital.

The administrator disclosed that several offices and facilities were badly affected during the incident. Among the areas destroyed were the reception office, secretary’s office, computer room, ICT section, CCTV control equipment, doctors’ lounge, and parts of the children’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Despite the destruction, Rev. Sr. Maria described what she called a “miracle” after discovering that the fire did not enter the main administrator’s office where several sensitive and important hospital documents were kept.

She revealed that a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and an image of Mother of Perpetual Help located in her office remained untouched by the flames.

According to her, the fire spread close to the administrator’s office but suddenly stopped without damaging the office itself or the sacred images inside.

“For me, it is a great miracle and a sign that Mother of Christ is still protecting us,” she said.

She noted that concerned residents outside the hospital premises first noticed smoke coming from the building and immediately raised the alarm.

The hospital administrator praised the efforts of the Enugu State Fire Service, who she said arrived and worked through the roof of the building to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby offices and hospital sections.

She confirmed that all patients, nurses, newborn babies, and hospital staff were safely evacuated before the situation worsened.

Also speaking on the incident, Rev. Sr. Dr. Paschalina Ezechukwu IHM, an Obstetrician and Gynecologist as well as Head of Department, recounted how the emergency began while she was seated close to the area where the fire started.

According to her, she was discussing with a nurse when the nurse suddenly noticed a burning smell coming from the building.

“We immediately looked up and saw the fire,” she said. “I ran outside shouting and calling for help.”

She explained that student nurses, especially the male students, quickly responded by carrying buckets of water while others contacted the fire service.

Rev. Sr. Dr. Paschalina said hospital workers immediately began evacuating patients and newborn babies from the wards, including babies inside incubators and those receiving oxygen support. The babies were temporarily moved behind the hospital building to Madonna Hostel, where some nurses reside.