Hawaii Medical Center in Honolulu and Ewa has begun winding down its operations after a potential deal to buy the hospitals fell through, according to a spokesperson with the St. Francis Healthcare System.

About 990 people are employees at the hospitals.

"I'm starting to cry now. I just recently graduated and I'm a little sad because I like this location,"said HMC's West X-ray technician Raquel Ongos.

There is no timetable for the closure of the hospitals but it is expected to close within the next four weeks.

"This is the only hospital thats on the westside. What's going to happen to all the folks down in Waianae, they can't drive to Pali Momi, thats kind of riduclous. What about the ambulances?," said Ewa resident Bambi Bjugstad.

HMC East and West are no longer accepting ambulances.

Hawaii Medical Center had been looking for a buyer since declaring bankruptcy last summer.

It operated the former St. Francis hospitals in Ewa and Liliha and owes the St. Francis Healthcare System more than $39 million.

St. Francis filed papers this week to block the sale of the hospitals to Prime Healthcare Services for $25 million.

St. Francis said under terms of the proposed sale it would get less than 30 percent of what it is owed.