Fire at Former Restaurant Near Oberhausen's Centro Prompts Evacuation of Christmas Market

A blaze at the vacant Pagoda restaurant required 60 firefighters and led to a precautionary evacuation of the nearby Christmas market.

The fire broke out on Thursday evening in the empty Pagoda restaurant near the Centro shopping complex in Oberhausen, Germany.
Approximately 60 firefighters worked throughout the night to extinguish the flames and monitor for potential re-ignition of hidden embers.
As a safety measure, the adjacent Christmas market, which was busy at the time, was evacuated without any reported injuries or panic.
Authorities have stated that the cause of the fire remains unknown and a specialist is investigating the site to determine its origin.
Nearby facilities, including the Mary & Joe café, provided support to firefighters with refreshments and a rest area during the overnight operation.