Monschau in the Eifel: Three people die in a fire

Monschau (NRW) – Deadly fire in Monschau: Three people died in a fire in an apartment building. It was initially unclear whether a neighboring residential home for people with intellectual disabilities was affected, but that was not the case. It is a connected building complex, according to a spokeswoman for BILD.

The Feuer broke out around 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday night. The Fire department evacuated the apartment building in which around 30 people were staying. The extinguishing work lasted until the early hours of the morning. The situation was still confusing in the morning. It first had to be clarified which building the dead came from, the police told BILD.

Initially it was feared that there were numerous injuries due to smoke poisoning. After those suspected of being affected had been examined, the all-clear was given.

Victims died in their apartments

The building is 3,000 square meters in size and is a former mother and child home. It is now divided into several areas. In one there is a Caritas home for the disabled. The other part contains small apartments, which is where the fire broke out. The three dead died in their apartments on the second floor.

BILD met the owner of the apartment building at the scene of the fire. Hans-Wilhelm Janissen (73) reports: “I was informed about the fire by the caretaker at 2 a.m. and drove here immediately. When I got here, there were police and fire departments everywhere.”

The landlord is in shock. “It’s a terrible tragedy. I knew the deceased. They all lived in the approximately 20 square meter apartments with a shared kitchen,” Janissen told BILD.

Contrary to initial reports, the neighboring dormitory did not have to be evacuated. There was no danger for the residents. It is still unclear how the fire broke out in the apartment building. The police are investigating.