3 killed in fire at elderly ward of Hamburg hospital

Three individuals lost their lives after a fire erupted overnight in a hospital ward designated for elderly patients in Hamburg.

According to the fire department in the northern German city, rescue teams were unable to reach the victims in time. All three were pronounced dead at the scene.

Police have confirmed that the three individuals who died in the Hamburg hospital fire were men aged 84, 85, and 87.

In total, 34 others sustained injuries, with one person in critical condition.

The fire broke out just after midnight at Marienkrankenhaus, a hospital in the northern German city. Approximately 220 emergency responders were deployed to contain the fire and attend to the victims.

Among the injured, 18 suffered serious injuries, while 15 others sustained minor wounds.

Two people were transferred to another hospital for further treatment.

Several of the injured were treated on-site in the hospital’s emergency department.

When firefighters arrived, they found a room on the ground floor already engulfed in flames, with the fire threatening to spread to the upper floor.

Patients in surrounding rooms signaled from their windows, unable to escape due to heavy smoke. Many were elderly and had limited mobility.

Rescue operations involved the use of turntable ladders and portable equipment to help patients out of the building.

Others were evacuated through the corridors with the help of fire escape hoods, designed to protect against smoke inhalation.

Thanks to a swift response, firefighters managed to contain the blaze before it could spread further. However, part of the hospital had to be evacuated as a precaution.

While most patients were treated at Marienkrankenhaus, a few were taken to nearby clinics.

The fire was brought under control within about 20 minutes.

Authorities have not yet determined what sparked the incident, and police say the results of the investigation will not be available immediately.