Malacañang is appealing for donations to help those affected by the fire that hit the Philippine General Hospital in Taft Avenue, Manila on early Sunday.

“We are saddened by the fire that hit a portion of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) early morning today,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement.

He also thanked those who gave donations to PGH, the country’s largest referral center for cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“We thank our people for immediately responding to the call for emergency donations of the PGH. Big or small, cash or in-kind, these acts of kindness and generosity would be of great help and assistance to those who are in need. Kindly send them to the official fundraising groups of the state-run hospital,” he said.

Reports from the Bureau of Fire Protection-National Capital Region (BFP-NCR) showed that the fire broke out past midnight on Sunday at the operating room on the third floor of PGH’s central block building.

It reached the first alarm at 12:41 a.m. and was raised to the second level at 12:58 a.m.

The BFP-NCR said the blaze was declared under control at 2:46 a.m. and was put out at 5:41 a.m.

The fire caused damages worth P300,000 while the cause of the fire is still under investigation, it added.

Currently, PGH’s emergency room and some laboratory services were closed following the fire.

In a radio interview, PGH spokesperson Jonas del Rosario said no casualties or injuries were reported from the blaze.

He said the area where the fire started had no patients, but those on other floors had to be evacuated due to the smoke.

PGH had to transfer several patients, including 12 newborn infants, to nearby district hospitals.

Donations drives have been up since for those affected. The hospital is in need of ready-to-eat food, bottled water, bed linen, and pillows.

PGH Fiscal Services, meanwhile, cautioned against unauthorized donation drives.