A devastating incident occurred on the morning of Monday, November 18, in a ten-story apartment building on Narciselor Street in Bacău. An explosion at a heating system destroyed an apartment and severely injured a 45-year-old man. The victim suffered burns on approximately 20% of his body and other severe injuries. He was transported in critical condition to the Bacău County Emergency Hospital. Despite the tireless efforts of ICU doctors to stabilize him, his condition remained precarious, with the risk of vital organ failure. With no available beds in specialized burn centers in Romania, an emergency transfer to a clinic in Belgium was arranged.
Belgium Transfer: A Life-Saving Decision
On Wednesday at 9:00 AM, the patient was airlifted on a medical plane that departed from „George Enescu” International Airport in Bacău for Brussels. The decision was made to provide the patient with the best chances of recovery, as concerns among Romanian specialists grew in the days following the incident.
“The patient experienced an exceptionally complex event—an explosion in an enclosed space, followed by electrocution. The interventions so far were critical to keeping him alive, but the advanced treatment required exceeds our current resources,” stated a doctor from the medical team in Bacău.
Details of the Explosion
The explosion occurred in a third-floor apartment, likely caused by a malfunctioning heating system or a gas leak. The blast was so powerful that it destroyed the apartment and created panic among residents, who evacuated the building in haste. Firefighters from ISU Bacău responded swiftly, deploying three fire engines, a rescue team, and ambulances. The man was found unconscious but with a pulse and was immediately rushed to the hospital.
Residents in Shock
The explosion left the local community in shock. Residents of the affected building and neighboring areas described the incident as traumatizing. “We woke up to a deafening noise and shattered glass everywhere. I thought it was an earthquake,” one resident recounted. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion. Until then, the affected apartments remain inaccessible, and residents have been temporarily relocated to shelters provided by local authorities.
A Long Road to Recovery
While the transfer to Belgium offers the patient a chance at survival, his prognosis remains guarded. “This is an extremely complicated case, and his condition could change at any moment. We hope the advanced treatments abroad will give him a fighting chance,” one of the attending doctors added.
The investigation continues as the community of Bacău awaits updates on the patient’s condition and measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
