Collapse in Moselle River Hotel in Germany: One Dead and Eight Trapped

A portion of a hotel in Kroev, located in the Moselle River region in western Germany, collapsed around 11:00 PM on Tuesday night. At the time of the incident, fourteen people were inside the building.

Five individuals managed to exit the building unharmed, but nine others were trapped inside. By early Wednesday morning, emergency services confirmed that one person had died, although they had not yet recovered the body. Authorities were in contact with some of the eight remaining trapped individuals, several of whom were reported to be seriously injured, according to a police statement.

The cause of the collapse remains unknown, and no immediate information about the identities of the affected individuals has been provided. In response to the incident, authorities evacuated 31 people from the surrounding area as a precaution.

The police described the rescue operation as extremely challenging, noting that emergency personnel could only enter the building with utmost caution due to the risk of further collapse. Around 250 emergency workers, including drone specialists and rescue dogs, were deployed to the scene.

Kroev, a town of approximately 2,200 residents, is situated near the tourist city of Traben-Trarbach along the Moselle River. Images from the site show significant damage to the multi-story, timber-framed building. The precarious condition of the structure has complicated rescue efforts, as firefighters initially faced severe risks preventing them from entering.

Due to concerns that additional parts of the hotel might collapse, potentially affecting nearby buildings, adjacent houses were evacuated. The emergency services on-site include firefighters, medical teams, police, special forces, rescue dog squads, and drone units.