In the early hours of Sunday, January 19, a fire in the basement of the IMSS General Hospital No. 13 in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, forced the evacuation of at least 140 patients. This situation necessitated the complete evacuation of the hospital to preserve the integrity of patients and staff.
The mayor of Matamoros, Alberto Granados, went to the site to assess the situation. Subsequently, he visited the General Hospital to oversee the needs of the transferred patients and their families. Authorities from the Administrative Operations Decentralized Body (OOAD) of the IMSS in Tamaulipas arrived at the site to coordinate attention actions, inspect the building, and ensure the continuity of medical services.
The IMSS reported that the situation is under control, but investigations continue to determine the causes of the fire. The incident occurred when the Internal Civil Protection Unit of the hospital detected smoke in the basement, thus activating emergency protocols.
Hospital staff evacuated the patients, relocating some within the unit and transferring others to the General Hospital of Matamoros. According to a statement from IMSS Tamaulipas, the fire was controlled and extinguished without any recorded injuries. Work is ongoing to review the facilities to rule out possible risks before the hospital resumes operations.
