Explosion and minor fire disrupt Central Laboratory

It’s not clear what caused a small explosion this evening at the Central Medical Laboratory in Belize City, but fire fighters called to the scene, promptly extinguished the minor blaze. And while authorities are still trying to get a handle on the origin of the incident, Joy Charlie, Director of Laboratory Services, says that the staff acted quickly to evacuate the building.

Joy Charley, Director of Laboratory Services
?Well we were in a meeting and we just heard a little explosion and we saw fire. We evacuated the staff and we called the fire department, and they are here.?

Alyssa Noble, Reporting
?You don?t know specifically what caused the fire??

Joy Charley
?No, no. After the fire is out, the fire department will investigate and they?ll be able to tell us. And we have gotten in touch with the Ministry of Health and we have lab services. We have a lab at Karl Heusner that is functional so it?s not that we don?t have services now.?

Alyssa Noble
?Do you know what room or specific area that the explosion took place??

Joy Charley
?It?s on the lower flat, in the corridor. Whenever the fire department is finished then they will have an investigation and see what could have caused it and then we will know. But we have gotten all our staff out and they are all safe. A bit shaken up, but safe.?

At News Time, Fire Chief, Henry Baizar still could not comment on the cause of the fire. The investigation is expected to be concluded by Wednesday. According to reports, one member of the laboratory staff was treated for minor burns at the K.H.M.H.