11°c A few clouds
18°c Sunny
The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION
B.C.'s busiest emergency room flooded after construction accident
SURREY, B.C. - B.C.'s busiest emergency room was closed and patients were evacuated as contaminated water from a broken water main poured in, forcing nurses to try to control the flood of dirty water by tossing towels and rags on the floor.
Paul Naragliano, 74, said Monday he and other patients were transported to another area of the ER at Surrey Memorial Hospital when water started spilling in.
"But the water, after one hour or so, was coming there too. So the nurses were all running around with rags and tried to stop the water and they asked us to go one floor up and we went up."
Naragliano said he saw about 10 centimetres of water on the floor when patients were being transported out.
"I can walk, and I know what's going on, but some patients needed help," said Naragliano, who was wearing an oxygen mask as he was hurried out of the ER.
Tasleem Juma of the Fraser Health Authority said a construction accident caused the water main to break, creating significant damage to the ER.
Juma said 25 patients were in the ER at the time of the incident, just before 9 a.m., and they have been relocated to other areas in the hospital.
"My understanding is that at the peak of the water coming in, we were looking at about ankle-height water."
She said the diagnostic imaging area is also damaged from the water, which was originally considered contaminated but by later in the day, was concluded to simply be dirty.
The ER will remain closed for "at least several days," as officials develop a restoration plan, announced the health authority in a statement Monday evening.
All new emergency patients will be sent to an outpatient clinic and surgery area.
The health authority said while one operating room is now functioning for emergency surgeries, a total of 108 elective, non-urgent surgeries have been postponed.
Patients requiring dialysis will be directed to other facilities Tuesday because the hospital's renal unit will remain closed for outpatient services.
Motorists are being told to stay away from the area because several blocks around the hospital are closed.
The health authority said it does not yet know how much the incident will cost.
More FP News Top Story
- Back to Top
- Return to FP News Top Story
More FP News Top Story
(1 of 43 articles for this week)
Duffy expense controversy sent back to closed-door Senate committee
05/21/2013 10:02 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular FP News Top Story
- Unidentified victims of Bangladesh collapse buried as more graves are readied; toll now 420
- A closer look at the 3 new game consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony
- Pakistani model's tattooed nude photo in Indian magazine causes uproar
- Dates set for recreational food fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Israeli archaeologists discover ancient clay seal in Jerusalem, suggest link to Temple ritual
- Van Gogh museum unconvinced by new theory painter didn't commit suicide but was shot by 2 boys
- Police: Boston Marathon bomb suspect fired shots from boat, hospitalized in serious condition
- Sharks score twice early and hang on for 2-1 win over Kings to tie series at 2 games
- RCMP and Quebec corruption inquiry battle over access to mounds of Mob evidence
- New book, film search for answers on China's secret salvaging of sunken British submarine
- Unidentified victims of Bangladesh collapse buried as more graves are readied; toll now 420
- Dates set for recreational food fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Pakistani model's tattooed nude photo in Indian magazine causes uproar
- In unusual pattern, Oklahoma tornado tracked path of 1999 monster twister with record winds
- Israeli archaeologists discover ancient clay seal in Jerusalem, suggest link to Temple ritual
- Police: Boston Marathon bomb suspect fired shots from boat, hospitalized in serious condition
- Car bomb at French Embassy in Libyan capital wounds 3 in latest sign of deepening lawlessness
- Pressure grows to improve human rights for transgender people in Newfoundland
- Nigeria, beset by violence from Islamic extremists, sets up committee on offering amnesty deal
- First lady: Jobs program has led to training or hiring of 290,000 veterans, military spouses
- ESPN says it regrets that reporter described gay NBA player Collins as a sinner
- Pakistani model's tattooed nude photo in Indian magazine causes uproar
- Unidentified victims of Bangladesh collapse buried as more graves are readied; toll now 420
- Census 2011 makes history: population in the West surpasses that in the East
- Dates set for recreational food fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador
- As Boston mourns, suspected brothers' radicalism comes into focus
- Car bomb at French Embassy in Libyan capital wounds 3 in latest sign of deepening lawlessness
- Israeli archaeologists discover ancient clay seal in Jerusalem, suggest link to Temple ritual
- Still no winner for $50 million Lotto Max jackpot, but Manitoba has a $1 million winner
- Elections Canada wants greater punishment powers in wake of robocalls debacle
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.