The National Police partially evacuated the area around Asturias Central University Hospital (HUCA) on a Wednesday night after a phone bomb threat was reported. The caller claimed to be using a confidential number and warned of danger at 10:15 p.m. Security forces treated the tip with seriousness, though officials later indicated there was little factual basis to the threat. Teamed with Tedax specialists and canine units trained to detect explosives, investigators conducted thorough checks through the hospital plumbing and surrounding zones to rule out danger.
By roughly half past eleven, HUCA began a targeted evacuation that initially affected the Emergency Service and waiting rooms, along with patients with mild impairments or stable mobility. Health authorities clarified that evacuated patients from the emergency department and those arriving after the alert were relocated to other hospitals to ensure safety and continued care.
The evacuation did not extend to severely ill patients or individuals with significant mobility challenges, but those accompanying them were moved as a precaution. The on-duty doctor overseeing a sensitive department at HUCA stated that minimal staff remained on site to support patients who could not be moved. Police units, including several canine teams, conducted a comprehensive sweep of the Emergency Room while facilities outside provided shelter for healthcare workers, patients, and families awaiting the outcome of the threat assessment.
Conchita Saavedra, the director of SESPA, and her entire team reported to the emergency department as protocols were reviewed and updated. A spokesperson from the Prensa Ibérica group quoted a plan to implement new safety procedures, while leadership figures offered messages of calm—Barbón sending a reassuring note after midnight.
A calm, measured response was essential, and officials worked to convey reassurance to the public. The State Security Corps and other specialized services continued operating, ready to act on the guidance of safety authorities and responders on the ground.
In an effort 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 using 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.
Minutes into the morning, Sespa announced that access to HUCA’s emergency department had returned to normal. Relatives were permitted to re-enter the waiting areas as investigators completed preliminary checks. Conchita Saavedra confirmed that nine hospital floors and emergency areas had been cleared and that other sections of the facility would undergo inspection to ensure safety across the entire complex.
HUCA employs about 6,400 people and houses nearly a thousand beds, underscoring its pivotal role in the regional health system. The incident highlighted the rapid, organized response of hospital staff, security forces, and local authorities in managing a potential threat while maintaining essential patient care and safety.