Costa Rica Hospital Fire Death Toll Rises to 19

July 13, 2005
Like most other medical facilities in Costa Rica, the hospital lacked an adequate evacuation plan.

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) -- The death toll from a fire that swept through three floors of a busy Costa Rican hospital rose to 19 after authorities located another body in the building, officials announced Wednesday.

The victim, who was not identified, was found on the fifth floor, where 16 other victims also died, said Francisco Ruiz, a spokesman for the police division investigating Tuesday's pre-dawn fire. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the blaze.

The fire started in a fourth-floor supply room of the Calderon Guardia Hospital and quickly traveled to the third and fifth floors, gutting the neuro-surgery and men's surgery departments. The top two floors of the five-story building were completely destroyed. Authorities have not yet determined a cause.

None of the 18 other victims has been officially identified, either, although hospital officials said the dead included three medical personnel: nurse Patricia Fallas, 42, who died while trying to evacuate patients, and nurses Maria Elena Diaz and Mayra Mercado, the latter a native of Nicaragua.

Like most other medical facilities in Costa Rica, the hospital lacked an adequate evacuation plan. There were no fire hoses or emergency lighting, while two small staircases designed for evacuations only reached to the third floor, Fire Chief Hector Chavez said. An alarm failed to sound as well, Chavez said. At the time of the fire, 522 patients were at the hospital.

On Wednesday, Costa Rican news media reported that that the hospital was insured against fire damages to the building, but not for losses suffered by the patients. That report could not be confirmed immediately.

Some of the patients had to jump out windows or climb down secured bedsheets to escape the flames.

President Abel Pacheco declared three days of national mourning and announced the formation of a committee to investigate safety measures at all hospitals after state health officials asked him to declare a national emergency in the state hospital system.

Voice Your Opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Firehouse, create an account today!