A security alert near Asturias Central University Hospital, known as HUCA, triggered a partial evacuation on a Wednesday night after a phone threat was received. The caller claimed to be using a confidential line and warned of danger around 10:15 p.m. Police and security forces treated the tip with seriousness, though later reports indicated there was little factual basis for the threat. Teams including Tedax specialists and canine units trained to detect explosives conducted meticulous checks through the hospital plumbing networks and surrounding zones to rule out any risk to patients, staff, and visitors.
By about 11:30 p.m., HUCA initiated a focused evacuation that first impacted the Emergency Service and waiting areas, along with patients with mild impairments or stable mobility. Health authorities clarified that evacuated individuals from the emergency department and those arriving after the alert were relocated to alternative facilities to ensure ongoing care and safety while investigations continued. The operation aimed to balance rapid safety measures with the need to maintain essential medical services for the broader community.
The evacuation did not extend to critically ill patients or those with significant mobility challenges, but companions and caregivers were moved as a precautionary measure. The on-duty physician supervising a sensitive department at HUCA stated that only a minimal staff remained on site to support patients who could not be relocated, while staff in other areas coordinated to maintain critical care workflows. Police units, including several canine teams, carried out a comprehensive sweep of the Emergency Room, and nearby spaces provided shelter for health workers, patients, and families waiting for the outcome of the threat assessment.
Conchita Saavedra, director of SESPA, and the entire leadership team reported to the emergency department as protocols were reviewed and updated to strengthen safety measures. A spokesperson from the Prensa Ibérica group circulated plans to implement new safety procedures, and leadership offered messages of calm, with officials including a regional figure sending a reassuring note after midnight to help ease public concern.
A calm, coordinated response proved essential, and officials worked to convey steady, transparent updates to the public as the situation evolved. The State Security Corps and other specialized services continued operating, ready to act on the guidance of safety authorities and responders on the ground, while keeping the focus on patient well-being and orderly operations.
To address public anxiety, authorities established a dedicated telephone service to respond to relatives seeking information about patients at HUCA. The Ministry of Health urged residents to use the 112 line for timely updates on evacuation progress, while clinical details about any patient could not be disclosed. SESPA directed patients toward other health institutions via 112 to ease emergency room load, reducing pressure on the unit while ensuring care continued where possible and appropriate.
Minutes into the morning, SESPA announced that access to HUCA’s emergency department had returned to normal. Relatives were allowed to re-enter waiting areas as investigators completed preliminary checks. Conchita Saavedra confirmed that nine hospital floors and emergency zones had been cleared and that other sections of the facility would undergo inspections to ensure safety across the entire complex before operations fully resumed.
HUCA employs roughly 6,400 staff members and houses nearly a thousand beds, underscoring its pivotal role in the regional health system. The incident underscored the combination of swift, organized responses from hospital personnel, security forces, and local authorities in managing a potential threat while preserving essential patient care and safety for the community.