Fire at Tbilisi railway station vending area brought under control, dozens of hospital patients evacuated

Emergency crews in Tbilisi have extinguished a major fire that broke out early on Wednesday at the railway station open vending area, Georgia’s Emergency Situations Management Service said.

The blaze, which began at approximately 06:00 local time, rapidly engulfed parts of the market where second-hand clothes, fruit, vegetables, and various goods were stored, witnesses told local media. Firefighters and police remain on site as cleanup and investigation efforts continue.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

The nearby Healthycore Clinic was also affected after the fire disrupted the operation of its oxygen plant, forcing the urgent transfer of 93 patients to other medical facilities. According to the clinic’s director, Archil Khantadze, some patients on mechanical ventilation were moved by intensive care vehicles, while others were transported by ambulance.

“Thanks to the quick response of emergency services and the Ministry of Health, all patients were safely relocated within an hour to Ingorokva, Pineo, and Aladashvili clinics. No lives are at risk,” Khantadze said.

Georgia’s Health Minister visited the scene, and authorities have promised a full investigation into both the fire and its broader impact.