A devastating fire erupted in the geriatric ward of the Marienkrankenhaus in Hamburg, Germany, during the early hours of Sunday morning. The incident, which began on the ground floor, quickly escalated, with flames and smoke spreading to the level above and impacting a significant portion of the four-storey hospital building.

Emergency services were alerted to the blaze shortly after midnight. Upon arrival, firefighters were confronted with a critical situation, finding several patients desperately calling for help from the windows of the affected ward. Rescue operations were immediately initiated, with some individuals being brought to safety using ladders. The fire itself was successfully extinguished by the swift action of the firefighting crews within approximately 20 minutes of their engagement.

Tragically, the fire resulted in the deaths of three adults. In addition to the fatalities, more than 30 individuals sustained injuries. The German news agency dpa reported that one person is currently in a life-threatening condition. Among the other injured, eighteen people suffered serious injuries, while fifteen incurred minor injuries. The majority of the wounded received treatment at the Marienkrankenhaus itself, although two individuals with injuries were transferred to other nearby medical facilities for care.

As a precautionary measure and to ensure safety, a section of the hospital building had to be evacuated. While the immediate danger was contained, the cause of the fire remains undetermined. Authorities have launched an investigation to ascertain the origin and circumstances that led to this tragic event. Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.