A fire at a hospital in Hamburg, Germany, claimed the lives of three elderly patients and left dozens injured, local authorities reported on Sunday.
The blaze broke out shortly after midnight at the Marienkrankenhaus hospital, originating in a room on the ground floor of the geriatric ward. Flames spread to the facade of the floor above, while smoke quickly filled all four floors of the building, according to German news agency dpa.
The deceased were men aged 84, 85, and 87, police confirmed. A total of 34 people sustained injuries, with one in critical condition.
Emergency responders evacuated part of the hospital, rescuing several patients who were seen calling for help from windows. Most of the injured received treatment on-site, though two were transferred to nearby medical facilities. Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze within approximately 20 minutes.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and authorities said no conclusions are expected to be released before Monday.
