- Hamburg balcony collapse leads to 27-year-old's demise in hospital
Following a Balcony Collapse in Hamburg-Langenhorn, One Fatality Occurs
A tragedy struck last Wednesday when a balcony in Hamburg-Langenhorn collapsed, resulting in six injuries. Sadly, one of the victims, a 27-year-old man, succumbed to his critical injuries on Monday in the hospital, as announced by the Hamburg police. The incident occurred around 9 meters from the ground, as the balcony's floor slab from the multi-family house unexpectedly gave way.
Assisting with a Friend's Move-In
The group of six individuals - consisting of five men and one woman, ageing from 18 to 27 - had helped a friend move into his third-floor apartment prior to the event. As one of the survivors explained upon the day following the incident, their friend was set to move in just a few days later. In an effort to have some of the heavy items already in place, they jointly transported the refrigerator and washing machine into the apartment.
Once they went out onto the balcony for a moment's rest, it unexpectedly started sagging and collapsed downwards. Two of the victims still remained in the hospital, but their injuries were not life-threatening, as confirmed by a spokesperson.
As per the property management, the building had been constructed in 1966, with extensive repairs and renovation of the balconies completed in 2017, as disclosed by the managing director to the "Hamburger Abendblatt". The property management expressed deep regret over the unfortunate incident.
Police Still Investigating the Cause of Collapse
The exact reason behind the balcony's floor slab breaking away and causing the 90-degree fold-down remains under investigation by the regional State Criminal Police Office, as stated. Observations are also being made to determine if any criminally relevant actions were involved. This could include construction defects or a deteriorated building condition. According to the property management, no signs of damage were apparent on the affected balcony or the other balconies, as further mentioned by the managing director to the "Hamburger Abendblatt".
Following the incident, a structural engineer conducted an inspection of the building, leading to a temporary ban on using all balconies within the apartment complex for the residents' safety.
The news of the balcony collapse in Hamburg-Langenhorn has been widely covered, causing concern among local residents. The incident, which resulted in one fatality and six injuries, is currently under investigation by the regional State Criminal Police Office to determine the cause of the collapse.
