Major Incident Declared After Fire at Southampton General Hospital

On Sunday 1 Feb 2026, a fire broke out at Southampton General Hospital in the south‑west of England at 05:30 AM. Emergency crews were called to the 484‑bed facility, which is part of the University of Southampton NHS Trust. The blaze prompted a major incident declaration, the evacuation of 250 patients, and the closure of surrounding roads including the A302 and the M27. The fire has been contained with no injuries reported to staff or patients, though the cause remains unknown. The hospital’s emergency department is diverting non‑life‑or‑limb‑threatening cases, and visitors have been asked to stay away. All outpatient appointments scheduled for Sunday were cancelled.