Buildings around Thursday Island hospital evacuated after fuel spill

Emergency crews have worked to clean up a fuel spill which forced the evacuation of some buildings around a Torres Strait island hospital earlier today.

The Thursday Island Hospital on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, Far North Queensland. Picture: Brendan Radke

A diesel generator leaking fuel has caused an evacuation of some buildings around a major Torres Strait Island hospital on Tuesday afternoon.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Service spokeswoman confirmed crews evacuated an area around Thursday Island Hospital following reports a fuel generator began leaking fuel.

“We had two crews on scene working to contain the spill,” the spokeswoman said.
“They evacuated the area and eliminated all sources that could ignite.”

The spokeswoman said QFES crews had to wait for council workers to arrive on scene with materials required to absorb the spill.

Marita Sagigi, Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service Acting Executive General Manager (North), said some staff were evacuated “as a precaution” but that patients were unaffected.

“Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service is working with the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services to respond to a diesel spill at Thursday Island Hospital,” Ms Sagigi said.

“The diesel has been contained in the room and is not leaking.

“Staff in some external areas of the facility have been evacuated as a precaution, but there has been no impact on patients or hospital operations.”

Nobody was injured as a result of the spill.

Originally published as Buildings around Thursday Island hospital evacuated after fuel spill