Hamburg (dpa / lno) – After an explosion in a dormitory for the needy in Hamburg-Stellingen with a life-threatening injury, the State Criminal Police Office has now resumed its investigation, but was initially unable to enter the fire scene. “The structural engineer was there. The most affected room and adjacent rooms are not accessible and the associated block is not habitable,” a police spokesman said Friday. Areas must therefore first be secured so that they can be entered for investigation. The cause of the explosion on Thursday evening was therefore initially unclear.
According to firefighters, the accident occurred on the first floor of a five-story building. The 61-year-old occupant of the room where the explosion allegedly took place sustained fatal injuries. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance and treated in a special burn clinic. “There is still a life-threatening situation and his condition is critical,” the police spokesman said. According to reports, five other residents of the housing also suffered superficial cuts due to flying debris and were treated on an outpatient basis.
The force of the blast must have been strong, as a spokesman for the fire department said. “Inside there are clear traces of a massive explosion,” the operations manager said at night. There were mountains of rubble in the corridors. The facade was also deformed by the pressure wave and pushed outward, he said. Several windows were destroyed. The explosion caused a fire. The firefighters managed to quickly put out the fire. Police and firefighters intervened on the spot with a large contingent.
According to the police, the emergency services had taken about 90 people from the house that was said to be in danger of collapsing and brought them to safety. They were initially housed on a bus or in an emergency accommodation of the Mitte district office in St. Pauli. They are cared for there by the German Red Cross DRK. Volunteers provide people with food and drink and, if needed, also provide first aid, as announced by the DRK.
According to a police spokesperson, the affected building is housing for homeless people and male refugees. Some of the residents can already return to the accommodation. “The areas not affected by the explosion are habitable”. Förder & Wohnen makes sure the men return to these rooms.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 221111-99-473828 / 4
