The Mount Gambier hospital has received significant water damage after a fire sprinkler system malfunctioned on site.

Two MFS appliances were called to the hospital at 3.45pm today, after they were alerted to an alarm.

The crews arrived to find a fire sprinkler system in the roof had failed, causing hundreds of litres of water to be released.

The substanial leak caused the roof to collapse outside the surgical ward, with water spilling through the ward, corridor and radiology.

Quick work by the MFS, assisted by the CFS and Mount Gambier and District SES, stopped the water entering the theatre.

No patients were affected by the flooding, nor were they evacuated and the hospital is still operating.

Emergency services will remain on site overnight continuing the clean up and providing fire watch as the fire sprinkler system has had to be isolated

A contractor is on site assessing the sprinkler system.