A tragic fire broke out in the St. John the Evangelist hospital located in Tivoli, on the outskirts of Rome, resulting in the deaths of at least three people. The incident occurred on Friday, which was a holiday in Italy, when the blaze ignited in the ground floor emergency room at around 11 p.m.

Chief prosecutor Francesco Menditto revealed that the flames quickly spread to other wards, releasing thick smoke throughout the hospital. As a result, all 193 patients had to be evacuated overnight, with the assistance of fire and police rescue crews. Using fire truck ladders, the rescue teams successfully reached patients on higher floors and facilitated their safe transfer.

Immediate medical attention was provided to the patients in intensive care as they were transferred to other hospitals in ambulances. Meanwhile, patients in less critical condition were initially relocated to a nearby municipal gymnasium and later transferred to alternative healthcare facilities.

Francesco Rocca, the governor of the Lazio region, expressed his condolences and informed the public that an investigation has been launched to ascertain the cause of the fire. Rocca acknowledged the need for improved fire safety infrastructure in Italy's aging hospitals, including the installation of sprinkler systems.

Initially, the fire department reported four deaths. However, during a news conference, Chief Prosecutor Menditto clarified that three deaths were directly caused by the blaze, while the fourth death was unrelated to the fire. Prosecutors are currently working on the assumption that the fire was not set intentionally, but they are considering manslaughter charges as part of the investigation.

Footage released by the fire department revealed the extraordinary efforts of firefighters and police officers as they used ladders to reach patients on upper floors, amidst billowing smoke. Both Menditto and Rocca commended the rescue teams on their exceptional overnight operation, especially for successfully evacuating patients who could not move on their own.

Moving forward, the focus will now shift to securing and removing valuable medicines from the hospital, particularly those used in cancer treatment, as the facility is expected to be unusable for the foreseeable future. Rome's chief firefighter, Cmdr. Adriano De Acutis, affirmed that efforts are being made to safeguard these essential medical supplies.

This tragic incident highlights the urgency to address fire safety measures in hospitals across Italy, ensuring the protection of both patients and healthcare workers.