VIEW GALLERY: Emergency services respond to Mediclinic Nelspruit bomb scare

UPDATE: Mediclinic Nelspruit safe after bomb scare

Mediclinic Nelspruit has confirmed that no devices were found on its premises after a bomb threat was received yesterday afternoon.

The police informed the hospital that it had received a bomb threat and the relevant authorities were immediately deployed to the site.

Staff and patients were moved to safety, while authorities conducted a thorough search of the facility.

“We can confirm that no devices were found. Once it was deemed safe to do so, people were allowed back into the building” said Tertia Kruger, Mediclinic communications manager.

“Mediclinic Nelspruit is committed to ensuring the safety of our patients, staff and doctors and we regard this matter in a very serious light. Management has cooperated fully with the authorities to ensure that our facility remains safe.

We would like to thank all the supportive and emergency services who assisted on scene,” she said.

A bomb scare at Mediclinic Nelspruit saw the hospital evacuated with emergency medical personnel, the SAPS and the SAPS Bomb Disposal Unit on the scene this afternoon.

Details regarding the threat remain sketchy as the unit is combing the hospital and its grounds for any signs of a potentially lethal explosive.

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The police have not been able to confirm from where the threat may have originated, at what time the call was received, or any other details at this stage.

Meanwhile, patients have been evacuated, some in wheelchairs and a number of bedridden ones have been moved outside into the parking lot.

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The provincial police spokesperson, Brig Leonard Hlathi, was not available for comment at the time of posting the article.

Lowvelder  will update readers as more information becomes available.