Attica Wildfires – Hospitals: Intense Moments During the Evacuation of Two Hospitals – Anticipating What Tomorrow Will Bring

Last August, when the Alexandroupolis hospital was evacuated for the safety of patients and staff due to a raging fire, it was an unprecedented event. However, this scenario is becoming increasingly common. In the last two days, amid the firestorm in Attica, not one but three healthcare facilities were evacuated, with uncertainty about whether more health structures will need to follow. Climate change and the extreme weather events it causes are altering the landscape, and the crisis preparedness exercises that started in public hospitals in 2017 have proven to be timely planning with immediate application.

A total of 30 individuals from two NHS hospitals were transferred yesterday to other medical facilities. Specifically, by 05:05 yesterday morning, within less than an hour, the evacuation of Penteli Children’s Hospital was completed with perfectly coordinated efforts. In total, 19 children, 8 escorts, and three staff members were transferred by bus to the “Aglaya Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital. Additionally, five children hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit were transferred by EKAB mobile units to the ICUs of the “Panagiotis and Aglaya Kyriakou” and “Agia Sofia” Children’s Hospitals. The Rafina Health Center was also evacuated in the early hours, with four staff members being removed, and the Penteli Child Protection Unit (formerly PIKPA) was evacuated, relocating 35 residents and staff.

Yesterday afternoon, within approximately 1.5 hours, a preventive evacuation was carried out at the “Amalia Fleming” hospital in Melissia. A total of 20 patients were transported by EKAB ambulances to Pammakaristos, and three COVID-19 patients were taken to Sismanogleio. The patients were moved with their personal belongings, medication, and medical files. Present during the evacuations of both Penteli Children’s Hospital and “Amalia Fleming” was the General Secretary of Health Services, Lilian Vildiridi, who coordinated the operation. Vildiridi also visited Pammakaristos to ensure the patients were safely transferred, following an earlier visit with the Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, to see the children relocated from Penteli Children’s Hospital to Aglaya Kyriakou in the morning. It is worth noting that early Monday morning, the evacuation of the 414 military hospital, under the Ministry of National Defense, was also announced.

According to sources, the patients will remain in the receiving hospitals until it is deemed safe to return. It is unclear whether this will happen today or in the coming days. Another nearby hospital in the affected area is Sismanogleio, for which an operational plan was developed yesterday morning. However, as of last night, it was not considered likely that the fire would expand to necessitate its evacuation.

In any case, the preparedness exercises and operational plans for evacuating hospitals in the event of fire, earthquake, or other emergencies have proven crucial. These preparedness exercises began in 2017, initiated by the then-president of the Health Operations Center and current EKAB President, Nikos Papaefstathiou, who worked hard to make emergency readiness part of the training for healthcare and EKAB personnel, despite initial skepticism about their necessity. However, the changing climate and the increasing frequency of natural disasters like fires have underscored the need for full readiness in public healthcare institutions. The EKPY has developed over 15 Operational Plans for earthquakes, fires, biological threats, etc. Last year’s evacuation of Alexandroupolis Hospital was a massive operation with significant challenges due to extreme time pressure, hazardous conditions, and long-distance transfers. Before that, another evacuation occurred at Patras General Hospital “Agios Andreas” in 2008 due to an earthquake.

Meanwhile, dozens of incidents were transported to on-call hospitals and Health Centers on Sunday and yesterday. As of yesterday afternoon, 65 individuals had sought medical assistance, either by EKAB ambulances or by their means. As of last night, no serious incidents had been reported. All EKAB forces, as well as hospitals, remain on full operational readiness to assist with any emergency requiring urgent care.

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