Tragic Hotel Collapse in Kroev, Germany Claims Two Lives

A part of a hotel in Kroev, Germany, has tragically collapsed, resulting in the death of two people and trapping several others in the wreckage.

The incident occurred late Tuesday night when one floor of the building gave way, catching guests off guard. At the time of the collapse, there were fourteen people inside the hotel.

Authorities said that five guests managed to escape without injuries since they were not in the area that collapsed. However, the rescue operation soon became complicated as seven people were left trapped.

Rescuers were able to contact some of those trapped by using mobile phones, but it was difficult to reach them due to the precarious state of the building. The top inspector for fire and disaster protection warned that the structure was unstable, describing it as a “house of cards.”

After an intensive search, emergency services, which included around 250 workers and specialized rescue teams, managed to save six individuals on Wednesday. Fortunately, one of the first to be rescued was a two-year-old child, who was unharmed, along with their mother who only suffered minor injuries.

The father of the child was also rescued later in the operation. This emotional rescue effort seemed almost miraculous, considering the extent of the damage to the hotel.

The root cause of the collapse remains uncertain. While the original hotel building is believed to date back to the 17th century, some additional floors were added in the 1980s. Just before the collapse, work had been taking place on the building, but it is unclear if this was connected to the disaster.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang followed by a large cloud of dust just before the floors fell in, according to local reports.

In addition, nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution, and the rescue efforts are still ongoing to recover the bodies of the two deceased individuals. Both of the victims were German nationals.

Kroev is a charming town along the Mosel River, not far from the larger resort town of Traben-Trarbach, and is known for its picturesque scenery.