Rescuers Search for Three Missing After Building Collapse in Eastern Germany
Rescue teams in eastern Germany are intensifying their search for three individuals who remain missing following the collapse of a residential building in Görlitz, a city near the Polish border. The incident occurred on Monday night, with authorities suspecting a gas explosion may have triggered the disaster.
Police reported that the building, which housed both rental and vacation apartments, collapsed suddenly. Initial fears that up to five people could be trapped under the debris were later revised to three missing persons. Emergency responders are proceeding with extreme caution due to the potential for further gas leaks at the scene, according to German news agency dpa.
Search dogs were deployed to locate the missing but were unsuccessful in their initial attempts. Around 2 a.m. Tuesday, rescuers began clearing debris using an excavator and manual labor. The operation is expected to continue throughout the day.
A man who feared his wife and cousin might be among the missing told dpa that they had arrived that day for a vacation at the rented property. While shopping at a nearby supermarket, he heard an explosion and returned to find nothing but a pile of rubble. Police confirmed that the building, built in the historic Wilhelminian style, was completely destroyed.
Görlitz, Germany's easternmost city with a population of approximately 57,000, is known for its well-preserved historic old town, which serves as a popular filming location for international movie productions. The collapse has shocked the local community, and authorities are working diligently to locate the missing and investigate the cause of the explosion.
