Tragic Fire at San Giovanni Evangelista Hospital Near Tivoli Raises Questions About Safety
Last night a fire swept through the San Giovanni Evangelista hospital located just a few kilometers from Tivoli, causing severe damage to the facility and forcing the evacuation of nearly two hundred people. Three elderly patients died as a result of the blaze, underscoring the vulnerability of health care environments in emergency situations.
The deceased were Pierina Di Giacomo, 86, and Romeo Sanna, 86, along with Giuseppina Virginia Facca, 84. Initial reports had mentioned four fatalities, but authorities later confirmed that one of those cases involved a heart attack rather than smoke inhalation.
Initial observations indicated the fire originated at the rear of the hospital, spreading to the polyclinic area on a lower level and then reaching the emergency department and intensive care units. Early investigations point to waste materials as the potential ignition source, with smoke moving from the third floor up to the higher levels of the building.
Hospital staff and roughly 130 patients were evacuated overnight. Among those relocated were many children and newborns, as well as patients with less severe conditions who were moved to a nearby gym, while individuals with more serious illnesses were transferred to adjacent medical facilities.
In total, 69 patients were admitted to various hospitals in the Rome area and its surrounding provinces. A fleet of 23 ambulances was employed, and two medical units were established at the hospital to help manage the influx of injured and ill patients.
The Tivoli Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into the incident. An autopsy is planned to determine the precise causes of death for the victims, as authorities work to uncover the sequence of events that led to the fire.
Family members of another patient expressed concern over the circumstances of their loved one’s death, noting that the individual died during the outbreak but that smoke was not the direct cause. The patient, aged 84, had a chronic lung condition and had been in hospital just three days prior. A relative stated that the body remains in the hospital chapel because transporting it to the morgue was not possible at that moment.
One admitted patient described the experience inside the hospital: the air carried the odor of burning plastic, and after evacuating, power failures plunged the facility into darkness. Efforts to assist those with mobility challenges were described as challenging as officials and staff worked to move patients to safety.
Italy’s Health Minister, Orazio Schillaci, offered condolences to the families and expressed confidence that other patients were receiving necessary care. He noted that investigations would aim to clarify the fire’s causes as quickly as possible to inform safety improvements and prevent future tragedies.
A memorandum from the Italian health workers union, which was cited in early updates, highlighted concerns about the aging infrastructure in the area. It framed the incident as a symptom of broader neglect and emphasized the need for ongoing safety upgrades in local health facilities. The union warned that years of budget cuts have stressed hospital operations, jeopardizing both patient safety and staff welfare. Officials and health workers alike agreed that events like this should not occur in a modern, civilized country and that mandatory safety reviews and funding are essential to prevent recurrences.