A 35-year-old female patient in the psychiatric ward at a north of Pretoria hospital lost her life when a fire broke out at the facility last night.

According to the Gauteng Department of Health, a fire broke out at the Dr George Mukhari Hospital, in Ga-Rankuwa, in the psychiatric ward.

The department’s spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, says the woman, who was admitted to the hospital on June 20, died in the fire.

“She was placed in a seclusion room [on June 24], as part of her prescribed treatment,” says Modiba.

“At around 18:35, a smouldering small fire broke out [in] the seclusion room,” he adds.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

“The department wishes to extend our deepest condolences to the patient’s family as they mourn the sudden passing of their daughter,” says Modiba.

The victim’s family and the other patients will receive counselling, he adds.

According to Tshwane Emergency Services spokesperson Charles Mabaso, firefighters responded to the scene at 18:44.

Hospital staff had already extinguished the fire by the time they arrived on the scene.

“Tshwane Emergency Services safely evacuated 19 female patients to another ward, with no reported injuries,” he says.

Firefighters conducted ventilation operations to clear the ward of smoke.

The scene was handed over to the police for further investigation.