The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesman for Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) made the following announcement today (October 5) regarding a hospital facility safety incident:
 
     At around 8.30am today, white smoke and a burning smell suddenly emerged from an air duct in the Medical Ward on the 20th floor of Block K and triggered the alarm. The ward staff immediately arranged to transfer all 15 patients to another ward.
 
     Upon on-site inspection by the firemen, it was confirmed that there was no fire at the scene. After a preliminary investigation conducted by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and QMH's Facility Management Section, it is believed that the incident was caused by an overheated v-belt in Block K rooftop exhaust fan. The hospital had reported the incident to the Hospital Authority Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System and will arrange for further inspections to ensure facility safety. No patients or staff were injured during the incident and patient services were not affected.
 

Ends/Thursday, October 5, 2023
Issued at HKT 13:08

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