Everyone except the podiatrists were evacuated from the Floriana health centre yesterday after a fire broke out in a storeroom near the clinics where they work.

The lack of a fire alarm was deplored by the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin, which said the podiatrists only realised what was happening when they smelt the smoke. To make matters worse, the emergency exits were padlocked, the union added, calling on the authorities to take immediate action.

The fire, in which no one was injured, was put out by firemen.