A month after the hotel collapse: Causes further in the dark

Veröffentlicht:

Von:

The dramatic collapse of a hotel in the picturesque wine region Kröv not only caused horror, but also raises numerous questions. A month after the accident that took place on August 6, the exact causes are still in the dark. The incident that cost two people and buried seven other guests in the rubble remains a mystery whose clarification will employ experts in the coming weeks.

Since the accident, investigations that are coordinated by the Trier public prosecutor's office have been underway. A commissioned expert examines the ruin to get the cause to the bottom. "We expect his investigations to last on site by the end of September," said Peter Fritzen, the senior general prosecutor in Trier. However, the complexity of the damage event suggests that the final report could be long in coming.

The tragic incident

The evening when the hotel collapsed was a supposedly calmer for many guests. Among them was the 71-year-old Erika Sorm from Rheinau, who had decided on a short stay in Kröv. "I was just about packing my things after being knocked on the door and the hotel owner told me that I should take the bare essentials with me and be ready to be reconnected," recalled Sorm. Only seconds later, when she was in the hallway with her dog Queeni, she heard a terrible sound - the hotel building started to fall.

A total of around 250 emergency services were deployed during the 24-hour rescue operation to free the survivors. Seven people were saved in the middle of the chaos, while the life of a 64-year-old woman and a 59-year-old hotel owner ended tragically. "The memories of the hours I spent among the rubble are surreal," said Sorm, who was recovered unharmed despite the terrible experience. Her bitch, who was also buried, has also recovered well.

The investigators not only want to find out what exactly led to the collapse, but also whether there may be external negligence. At the moment, interrogations by the witnesses and hotel guests are also running to get a clear picture of the event. It remains to be seen how long the investigations will take and which new information will come to light.