A section of a hotel in Kroev, a winemaking town on the Mosel River in western Germany, collapsed on Tuesday evening, resulting in the deaths of two people and trapping several others in the wreckage. Authorities reported that 14 individuals were present in the hotel when a portion of the building gave way around 11 p.m. local time.
Five individuals managed to escape unharmed as they were not located in the collapsed section of the building. However, others were left trapped amidst the debris. Rescue workers are currently engaged in a complex operation to reach and save those trapped.
Accessing the trapped individuals is proving to be a challenging task, as the collapse of one story resulted in two ceilings overlapping. Joerg Teusch, the fire and disaster protection inspector for the Bernkastel-Wittlich district, described the situation at a news conference. He confirmed the deaths of two individuals, while stating that the cause of the structural collapse remains undetermined.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang and observing a large cloud of dust at the time of the collapse, according to regional public broadcaster SWR. “There was no option (to use) stairs, house entrances, doors or windows, because they were simply no longer there,” Teusch stated at a news conference. “We have to proceed with caution because the entire building structure is like a house of cards. If we pull on the wrong card, this building is sure to collapse.”
Authorities promptly evacuated 31 people from the immediate vicinity of the damaged building. Approximately 250 emergency workers, including drone specialists and rescue dogs, are currently on the scene.
Kroev, situated on a scenic stretch of the Mosel, is near the larger resort town of Traben-Trarbach. It has a population of roughly 2,200 inhabitants.
