Explosion at Santo Tomás Hospital in Panama

An explosion occurred in the boiler and machinery area of Santo Tomás Hospital (HST) on Tuesday afternoon, causing great alarm among patients and medical staff. Preliminarily, no injuries have been reported. A specialized team is investigating the cause of the explosion. Firefighters from the Calidonia, Balboa, and Clayton stations responded to the emergency call and managed to control the fire, which fortunately left no one injured, but caused significant damage to the structure. Upon arriving at the scene, the operational staff immediately conducted a safety assessment, confirming visible damage to the boiler structure. After the incident, the HST's Risk Management team activated safety protocols and evacuated the staff working in the area as a precautionary measure. As a preventive measure, access to the area was restricted to avoid additional risks and protect the integrity of the hospital staff and third parties. While repairs are being made, the 'White Elephant' will seek support from the Children's Hospital, the City of Health, and San Miguel Arcángel Hospital for the sterilization of instruments and surgical equipment to ensure the continuity of medical care.