Two Dead, Nine Injured in Bottrop Apartment Fire

A nighttime blaze in a multi-family building left the structure uninhabitable as authorities investigate the cause.

The fire broke out early Thursday morning in an apartment on the first floor of a multi-family building in Bottrop, Germany.
Two people were found dead in the burned apartment, with preliminary reports suggesting they were a tenant and a visitor.
Nine individuals, including a firefighter, sustained injuries; two of the victims are in critical condition due to severe smoke inhalation.
Firefighters rescued trapped residents using ladders as flames and smoke made escape through the stairwell impossible.
The building is now uninhabitable due to fire and water damage, with displaced residents receiving temporary housing support.