©picture alliance / AAPimages/Wehnert | AAPimages/Wehnert
On Tuesday morning, three people are still missing in the eastern German city of Görlitz after a residential building collapsed on Monday night. Authorities are investigating whether a gas explosion caused the disaster close to the train station.
Of the five people initially reported missing, two were found alive and unharmed shortly after midnight. Emergency services continued to search under the rubble throughout the night. The remaining three victims could not yet be reached.
Rescue workers must proceed with extreme caution. After all, there is still gas leakage at the site of the collapse. The leak is under the rubble and could not yet be repaired for technical reasons. So explained a police spokeswoman. Measuring equipment is continuously deployed to monitor gas concentrations in the air.
The multi-story building housed both rental and vacation apartments. After the incident, the area was completely evacuated and cordoned off.
Fire and rescue teams continue to search for those missing under the rubble. Police warn that the situation remains volatile due to the ongoing gas leak. A search for the cause of the explosion is also underway.
Görlitz, located in the state of Saxony near the Polish border, is a historic city best known for its well-preserved historic downtown.
©picture alliance / AAPimages/Wehnert | AAPimages/Wehnert