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Multiple Fires Across Germany Cause Injuries, Evacuations and Heavy Damage

Investigations are under way with insurers set to assess rising losses.

Overview

  • Separate blazes in Wittenberg, Gutach, Hamburg, Groß-Gerau, Bremerhaven and Remscheid on Monday forced evacuations and led to hospital treatments.
  • In Wittenberg a workshop for people with disabilities was evacuated, 20 people were treated for suspected smoke inhalation and police gave a preliminary damage estimate of about €800,000 while some signs point to a possible technical defect.
  • Police in Gutach (Ortenaukreis) raised the estimated loss from a farm and outbuildings to between €1.5 million and €2 million and said an insurance expert will inspect the site later this week.
  • In Hamburg-Moorfleet one person was reported severely injured after a fire beside a house and reporters described an explosion that officials have not confirmed; firefighters brought the blaze under control by evening.
  • Other incidents included a Groß-Gerau apartment fire that began in a kitchen with preliminary damage around €250,000, three separate Bremerhaven responses to small fires now under investigation, and a Remscheid production-hall blaze that sent three people to hospital and drew about 50 firefighters.