An abandoned building at the New Amsterdam Psychiatric Hospital in Region Six was gutted by fire on Wednesday afternoon.

The Regional Health Services Department said the fire, of unknown origin, broke out at a building that had no electricity and had reportedly not been used for more than a year.

The Guyana Fire Service responded promptly, and firefighters contained and extinguished the blaze.

Regional Health Officer Dr Vineshri Khirodhar confirmed that no patients or staff were affected, as the building was unoccupied.

It is the second fire at an unused structure on the hospital compound this year. In March, a fire broke out at about 5:05pm at a wood-and-concrete building.

Two fire tenders from the New Amsterdam Fire Station contained that blaze, limiting the damage to part of the structure. Initial Fire Service findings indicated it was likely caused by electrical issues, although the building had been vacant for some time.

Investigations are ongoing into the cause of Wednesday's fire.