One person died and eight others are trapped in a hotel collapse in Germany.
| Firefighters and paramedics at the scene of a partially collapsed hotel in the town of Kröv, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. (Photo: Reuters) |
According to initial information, at least one person has died and 8 others are still trapped inside the Reichsschenke Zum Ritter Götz hotel, which partially collapsed last night, while several others were seriously injured.
Police said the person killed has been identified but the body could not yet be removed from the building, adding that they had made contact with several people still trapped.
About 250 rescue workers were at the scene. A police statement said that, given the nature of the incident, this is a very difficult rescue operation, and only members of the emergency response team equipped with protective gear can approach the scene with utmost caution because of the risk that the building structure could collapse completely at any moment.
Images released by local broadcaster SWR show the A-frame roof of the hotel building tilted backward, while parts of the ground floor have collapsed. The cause of the collapse is still unclear.
The on-scene investigation team said 14 people were in the building when the hotel's upper floor collapsed at around 11 p.m. last night. Five of them luckily escaped without injury.
Police added that 31 neighbors were also evacuated from nearby buildings for safety because of the possibility of total damage to the surrounding area.
The Moselle region is a famous summer tourist destination, drawing many visitors thanks to towns with beautiful scenery, characterized by vineyards on steep riverbanks and ancient castles.
