Car catches fire on hospital premises in Dubai; patients, newborns evacuated

Heavy smoke from a burning car on the premises of Aster Hospital in Mankhool on Tuesday morning prompted an evacuation of pre-term babies and expectant mothers. 
Eleven pre-term babies, three pregnant women and seven patients from the intensive care unit were moved to the hospital's branch in Al Qusais as a precautionary measure. No one was injured.  
Around 2am, a car caught fire in the hospital's courtyard causing thick smoke, which engulfed the entrance of the hospital. The evacuation lasted about two hours and the patients arrived at Al Qusais branch at 4am. 
A statement from Aster DM Healthcare said, "Last night, a visitor arrived in his car at Aster Hospital in Mankhool. Before entering the ramp, leading to the car park, he realised that the vehicle was about to catch fire. He immediately left the car and fled the premises. On noticing the flames, our security team immediately extinguished the fire." 
However, the smoke emanating from the fire entered the hospital building. As a preventive step, the hospital staff summoned the Dubai Police, Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services and Dubai Civil Defence. 
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com