Two individuals perish in blaze at senior citizens' residence.
Out of nowhere, a seniors' home in Oyten, near Bremen, is engulfed in flames. Moments later, over 100 firefighters and other rescuers rush to the scene. Sixty seniors are safely evacuated, but three suffer severe injuries. Unfortunately, two elderly women don't make it out in time.
A sudden blaze at a nursing facility in the Lower Saxon town of Oyten has claimed the lives of two residents and left another three with serious wounds. The cause of the fire, which erupted at night, remains a mystery, the Verden police reported.
A caregiver spotted smoke and called the emergency hotline at around midnight, per police statements. The residence, home to over 60 people, was promptly evacuated. More than 100 firefighters and a horde of helpers from various rescue agencies swarmed in, along with almost 30 ambulance crews and 7 doctors.
The police reported that it was too late for help to reach two women aged 89 and 95. No details were provided regarding the condition of the injured, but a fire department spokesperson shared that one was a resident of the facility and that the fire seems to have originated from his room. A special investigation team from the police took over the case.
The German Patient Protection Foundation pointed out general fire protection shortcomings in nursing homes. This year alone, 12 fire-related deaths have occurred in these facilities, stated board member Eugen Brysch. He pointed out that the current preventive fire protection regulations are clearly inadequate. He called for sprinkler systems to be installed in all residents' and staff members' rooms.
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In response to the fire, local authorities in Lower Saxony are urging an international review of fire safety measures in senior living facilities. Despite the tragic loss of life, the resilience of the fire department and other emergency services in tackling misfortunes such as this should not be overlooked.
