Overnight Blaze at German Hospital Claims Lives of Elderly Patients

An overnight fire tore through a geriatric ward at the Marienkrankenhaus hospital in Hamburg, Germany, claiming the lives of three elderly patients and leaving around 50 others injured, officials confirmed on Sunday.

The fire, which broke out just after midnight, caused chaos inside the facility, as medical staff and emergency responders rushed to evacuate patients—many with limited mobility—from smoke-filled corridors.

According to authorities, the three fatalities were aged between 84 and 87. Several others sustained serious injuries, with three individuals currently in critical condition, fighting for their lives.

Firefighters arrived swiftly and were able to contain the blaze before it could spread beyond the affected room on the ward’s ground floor to other parts of the hospital.

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“Several elderly people with reduced mobility had to be evacuated along the corridors,” said fire service spokesperson Lorenz Hartmann, praising the rapid response of both medical staff and emergency crews.

Despite the intensity of the fire and the vulnerability of patients in the geriatric unit, firefighters managed to bring the flames under control quickly, preventing what could have been a far more devastating outcome. Dozens of patients were treated for smoke inhalation and minor injuries on-site and at nearby facilities.

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Hamburg police have launched a formal investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire, which began in a patient’s room. While foul play is not currently suspected, officials have not ruled out any possibilities and are reviewing hospital safety procedures.

Emergency services and hospital staff have been widely praised for their courage and efficiency in evacuating the ward under dangerous conditions. The Marienkrankenhaus hospital has temporarily relocated surviving patients to other parts of the building while cleanup and repairs are underway.

The tragedy has left the Hamburg community in mourning, with many offering condolences to the families of the victims. Local authorities have pledged support for the hospital and the affected families as investigations and recovery efforts continue.