Apartment fire in Germany leaves 2 dead, 8 injured

By Necva Tastan Sevinc

ISTANBUL (AA) - A devastating apartment fire early Thursday morning in Bottrop, North Rhine-Westphalia, claimed two lives and left eight others hospitalized, including two in critical condition, officials said.

The blaze broke out at 2:39 a.m. local time, rendering the building temporarily uninhabitable, according to reports from Stern magazine.

Emergency responders arrived to find flames pouring from the windows of a first-floor apartment. Residents in neighboring units were seen at their windows, calling for help as smoke engulfed the building.

Firefighters used turntable ladders and other equipment to rescue several individuals, while two were evacuated through a smoke-filled stairwell using rescue hoods.

Two bodies were discovered in the charred remains of the apartment where the fire originated. Identifying the victims has been difficult due to the extent of the damage, said Michael Duckheim, a spokesperson for the fire department.

One firefighter was injured during the operation after a fall, while the other injured individuals were transported to local hospitals for treatment.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, with local police leading the inquiry. Authorities have arranged temporary accommodations for displaced residents.

Bottrop Mayor Bernd Tischler expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and thanked the 60 firefighters who responded to the incident.

“This is a tragic day for our city,” Tischler said.