In the small holiday town of Kröv, located in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district of Rhineland-Palatinate, a two-story hotel has partially collapsed, leaving several people potentially trapped under the debris.
The collapse occurred around 10:55 PM on Tuesday, according to the Trier Police Department. The South West German Broadcasting Corporation (SWR) was the first to report the incident.
The hotel’s gable roof slanted and compressed the two floors on one side of the building. Currently, it is believed that nine individuals may be trapped under the rubble, with contact established with some of them. Several guests managed to escape the building and are now receiving support from emergency responders and crisis counselors.
Images from the scene show parts of the multi-story timber-framed building collapsed, with concrete debris scattered on the ground. Rescue teams have arrived with multiple emergency vehicles to manage the situation.
Evacuation and risk of further collapse
There is a risk that the hotel might collapse further, potentially damaging adjacent buildings. As a precaution, neighboring houses were evacuated during the night. The Technical Relief Agency (THW) has set up monitoring points around the hotel to detect any further movement in the structure, determining whether it is safe to enter.
A canine unit from the Trier Fire Department is on site, but the acute risk of collapse has so far prevented the fire department from entering the building. Efforts are being made to use drones to gain an internal perspective. The local county authorities have taken over the incident management.
Investigation and road closures
The cause of the building collapse remains unclear at this stage. Both the police and fire department have refrained from providing details. Roads surrounding the collapse site have been closed off to facilitate the rescue operations and ensure public safety.
Rescue teams continue to work diligently to locate and assist any individuals trapped within the wreckage, with ongoing efforts to secure the site and prevent further damage.
