Two patients dead and at least 34 injured after fire on hospital roof in Ludwigslust, Germany
A fire on the roof of the LUP Klinik Ludwigslust in northern Germany early Thursday killed two patients and injured at least 34 others, prompting a large-scale evacuation.
The fire
A fire broke out on the roof of the radiology department at LUP Klinik Ludwigslust in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania at 04:28 local time on Thursday. The flames and heavy smoke spread quickly through the hospital, triggering a massive emergency response. The cause of the fire is not yet known, and authorities have opened an investigation. Firefighters from across the wider region were called to the scene to bring the blaze under control.
Casualties and evacuation
Two patients who were being treated at the hospital died as a result of the fire. At least 34 people were injured, though the severity of their conditions was not immediately clear. One person went into cardiac arrest and was successfully resuscitated by doctors; it was not confirmed whether that individual was among those initially reported as casualties. At the time the fire started, 82 patients were inside the facility. Patients and staff were rushed out, with images showing some being evacuated on their hospital beds or in wheelchairs.
Emergency response
Police described the situation as still developing, with some wings of the hospital continuing to operate under emergency conditions. A large firefighting operation was underway, with crews working to extinguish the blaze and complete the evacuation safely. The number of people being evacuated remained unclear as the event unfolded.
The facility
LUP Klinik Ludwigslust has 160 beds and serves as a key secondary care unit for the region. It is part of the LUP-Klinikum Helene von Bülow network, which also operates another hospital in the nearby town of Hagenow. The fire has temporarily disrupted services, though some sections of the building were still functioning in an emergency capacity.
