Fire destroys part of Nauru hospital

Fire swept through Nauru’s main hospital overnight, destroying at least one- quarter of the facility and all medical supplies on the island, a government spokeswoman said.

There have not been any reports of people being hurt.

Government information officer Joanna Olsson told ABC radio in Melbourne on Thursday that the island was now in the grip of a ''medical emergency'', with all medical supplies believed destroyed.

The destruction of the hospital’s supplies comes the asylum seeker detention centre is in the grip of a gastroenteritis outbreak, with as many as 100 asylum seekers suffering the illness.

Ms Olsson said four blocks had been destroyed in the fire – the medical records office, the medical stores, the pharmacy and the x-ray room.

She said the wards were untouched, but about a quarter of the hospital had been lost. All patients had been moved to the public health centre.

She did not believe the fire had been deliberately lit.

''What I'm hearing is, it sounds like it's electrical. There's a fair few people who were on site who were the hospital staff. They tried to put the fire out, but by that time the fire had already started travelling through the ceiling, so it sounds like it was electrical [but] I can't confirm that,'' Ms Olsson said.

Ms Olsson, a member of Nauru’s Rotary Club, called for Australian Rotary clubs to come to the country's assistance.

Asylum Seekers' Resource Centre spokeswoman Pamela Curr said she feared for the wellbeing of asylum seekers in Nauru, particularly given Australia’s plans to send family groups there within weeks.

''There's a major gastro outbreak in the camp and about 100 people are down with it,'' Ms Curr said. ''How is that hospital meant to care for women and children now?''

A spokeswoman for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship confirmed there was a ''sizeable'' number of asylum seekers and a few staff suffering from gastroenteritis and gastro-like symptoms.

She said all affected people had been quarantined from the rest of the detainee population.

''There's no indication about the cause of the gastro,'' she said.

But Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said conditions in the makeship tent camp – which was hastily set up after asylum seekers rioted and all-but destroyed the built camp last month – were ''shocking''.

'The fire at the Nauruan hospital is the last straw,'' he said.

''The unsanitary conditions of the tent city camp have already created a humanitarian crisis among the asylum seekers. Over 100 asylum seekers have been struck down with an epidemic of gastroenteritis that has made conditions in the camp unbearable.

''There are only six portable toilets for over 400 asylum seekers. And there is no running water for washing. Up to 17 asylum seekers are living in one tent. The camp conditions are shocking. It is now urgent for asylum seekers to be brought to Australia before the emergency situation deteriorates any further.''

A spokeswoman for the department of immigration said: ''The claim by the RAC that there are only six portable toilets for over 400 asylum seekers is incorrect. Appropriate amenities are in place for transferees and staff.''

But the department is refusing to say how many toilets are in place for asylum seekers while permanent facilities are built beyond saying, ''it is not six; it is more than six''.