Fire kills at least two, injures dozens in hospital blaze in Ludwigslust

A fire broke out in the roof structure of a hospital in Ludwigslust, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, at 4.28 a.m. on Thursday, killing at least two people and injuring 34 others, emergency services said. The blaze, which tore through the roof of the Helios Klinikum Ludwigslust, forced the evacuation of patients and staff and sent thick smoke billowing over the town. One person was being resuscitated by paramedics at the scene, police said.

The fire was reported shortly after 4.28 a.m. and quickly spread through the hospital’s upper floors, trapping some patients and staff before firefighters arrived. Firefighters from Ludwigslust, Schwerin and surrounding districts fought the flames for more than two hours before bringing the blaze under control shortly after 7 a.m. At least 34 people were taken to nearby hospitals with burns and smoke inhalation, while two others were pronounced dead at the scene. The injured include both patients and hospital employees, according to local health authorities.

Helios Klinikum Ludwigslust, a 300-bed general hospital serving the region, was placed on lockdown as smoke filled corridors and stairwells. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the building to rescue those still inside, while police established a cordon around the site. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with authorities ruling out arson as a preliminary finding. A technical defect or electrical fault is being considered, a fire brigade spokesman said.

The hospital’s management said it would relocate affected patients to other facilities in Schwerin and Parchim and cancel all non-urgent surgeries for the day. “Our priority is the safety and care of our patients and staff,” a spokesman said. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s interior minister, Torsten Renz, said the state government would open an inquiry into the fire and review fire safety protocols in regional hospitals. “This is a tragedy that will be thoroughly investigated,” he told reporters in Schwerin.

Local residents described hearing explosions and seeing flames visible for kilometres as they rushed to the scene. “It was like a war zone,” said one witness, who asked not to be named. The town’s mayor, Simone Seliger, said Ludwigslust’s emergency services had responded “with great professionalism” and praised the coordination between police, fire and medical teams. “We are deeply shocked by what has happened,” she said.

The federal interior ministry said it would dispatch a team of fire safety experts to assist the state investigation. Health insurers have been asked to cover the cost of additional care for the injured, while counselling services have been made available to those affected. The hospital is expected to remain closed for at least 48 hours while structural assessments are carried out.