This archive report was first published on 13 December 2019.
Explosion Rocks German Housing Block ¶
On December 13, 2019, a catastrophic explosion struck a five-storey building in Blankenburg, Germany, leaving one person dead and 11 others injured.
According to Mayor Heiko Breithaupt, the explosion occurred at around 9:00am (0800 GMT), sending splinters flying up to 60 metres away.
Eleven people were injured in the blast, with one person suffering serious injuries and nine others escaping with light injuries. Another person sustained heavier injuries, Breithaupt said.
Local police chief Frank Goetze stated that the person killed had not yet been identified, but may be the owner of the apartment in which the explosion happened.
Police were unable to determine whether the blast was deliberately set off or if it was an accident, with Goetze suggesting that gas canisters found at the scene may have caused the explosion.
However, Goetze noted that it was unclear why the gas canisters were present, given that the building was supplied by a district heating system.
Residents in the building have been evacuated, with one family transferred to emergency accommodation. Investigations into the cause of the explosion are ongoing and may continue 'well into the night', Breithaupt said.
