Overview
- The residential building on Josefstraße collapsed after an early-morning explosion on January 8, killing residents aged 33, 30 and 6.
- About 200 responders, including THW units and search dogs, carried out a careful hand search in freezing conditions before locating the victims.
- Authorities shut off the gas supply to the street as a precaution, and most evacuated neighbors have since returned following safety checks.
- Police say an attack is unlikely, and specialized fire investigators will examine whether a gas leak caused the detonation over the next days and weeks.
- In a separate incident, Cologne investigators are examining a hotel deflagration that destroyed an upper floor and injured three people, including one critically.