Overview

• Police and the Magdeburg control centre warned residents to stay indoors, keep windows and doors closed, and switch off ventilation systems.
• Five people were evaluated and taken to hospital as a precaution, and authorities said none suffered serious injuries.
• Firefighters and police cordoned roughly 100 meters around the residential building on Harbker Straße while hazardous-materials measurements continued.
• The response followed an initial call about smoke from the basement, after which crews noted an unusual odor that can indicate phosphine.
• Investigators are working to identify the substance and source, and some public transport routes were temporarily diverted around the scene.