Nairobi — A FIRE has razed a section of the Garissa Provincial General Hospital.

Outpatient department - which includes dental, ear, nose and throat units, records section, the pharmacy and a canteen- went up in smoke.

A dental surgeon and a student nurse were injured as they joined other workers in putting out the fire. Hospital officials said the female doctor was seriously burnt and she was to be flown to Nairobi for specialised treatment.

Lack of efficient fire fighting equipment and personnel caused a delay in putting out the fire.

The only functioning fire fighting machine was not functional.

A combined team from the military, the US Marines and the Red Cross helped put out the fire and evacuate patients from wards.

Meanwhile, bomb experts have been called to investigate a second explosion that rocked a popular pub in Nairobi at the weekend.

The explosion occurred at the Deep West Pub and Restaurant on Sunday night, causing massive damage in one of the rental rooms.

None of the patrons was injured as most of them scampered for safety.

This is the second such incident at the hotel in a month.