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The Eastern Cape Health Department said suspected veld fires destroyed buildings and the belongings of workers at two EC public healthcare facilities this weekend.
In a statement, the Department said the fires destroyed at least 10 park homes being used as staff accommodation used to accommodate at least 40 healthcare workers in Flagstaff
Spokesperson, Mkhululi Ndamse, said some of the workers were only left with the clothes on the backs.
He said no one was injured in Saturday’s fire.
Ndamase said the department was making arrangements to accommodate the affected healthcare workers while others will return to their own private homes.
Meanwhile, he said a fire at the Dutywa community health centre destroyed an incinerator room, but no one was injured.
Patients were transferred to Butterworth Hospital but the facility remains open and operational.
Eastern Cape MEC for Health Ntandokazi Capa said she was happy there was no loss of life.
“We are grateful to everyone who played a part in containing the fires. We are happy that no one was injured or worse.
“Although we are a department with budgetary constraints, infrastructure can always be replaced," the MEC said.
A full damage assessment still needs to be done.
