Patients evacuated as fire breaks out at historic Istanbul hospital

Dozens of patients were evacuated after a fire erupted at a Greek hospital in Istanbul on Thursday.

Some 80 patients, mostly elderly people, in Balikli Greek Hospital were shifted to nearby medical facilities as flames engulfed the roof of the historic building in the Zeytinburnu district.

The cause is still unknown and no one was injured, according to Istanbul Governorship officials.

Rescue teams were dispatched to the scene and the fire was contained, the officials added.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to Stati Leana, the chief physician of the hospital, over the phone, according to the Turkish Communications Directorate.

Erdogan said he is closely following developments and renovation work to repair the damaged hospital will begin as soon as possible.

In a statement, Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew appreciated the quick response to douse the blaze and limit damage at what he said was one of the most important charitable institutions serving the elderly.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to the state and municipal authorities, as well as firefighters, nursing home and hospital workers, and everyone who volunteered to put out the fire and save the nursing home residents,” he said.