An investigation has been ordered by the Foundation for Medical Services after two hot water pipes burst yesterday morning at the new hospital.

A Foundation for Medical Services (FMS) spokesman told this newspaper it is still too early to draw conclusions and it is up to the investigating board to establish if the damage was an accident or deliberately caused.

The incident took place at 7.30am when two pipes for the distribution of hot water burst and flooded parts of levels 9 and 8 (ie level –1 and level –2 respectively) in Block D3/4.

The hospital’s sophisticated security system immediately triggered an alarm and the damage was contained. Luckily, there were no people around at the time.

An FMS statement said the contract the government signed with Skanska provides that any faults detected up to one year after the hospital is handed to the government will be repaired with costs borne by Skanska. This is known as the Defects Liability Period and comes to an end on 28 June next year.