MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A fire at a refugee reception facility in Bamberg left on early Wednesday one person dead and 14 residents slightly poisoned by smoke, six of whom have been hospitalized, according to local police.
"The criminal police of Bamberg have launched an investigation into the yet unknown causes of the fire."
Bei einem Brand in einer Asylunterkunft in #Bamberg ist ein Mensch gestorben. Laut Polizei gibt es keine Hinweise auf Brandstiftung. pic.twitter.com/homGkJGEB7
— BR24 (@BR24) November 15, 2017
The fire erupted at about 02:00 GMT on the ground floor of a two-story building where 163 people were accommodated. It was soon taken under control by firefighters, who found an unidentified victim on the ground floor.
Ein Toter bei Brand in Asylunterkunft in Bamberg,
— Blaulicht Nürnberg (@Blaulicht_Nbg) November 15, 2017
14 Verletzte — Brandursache zunächst unklarhttps://t.co/Lb3E6Wktwk pic.twitter.com/TmPHunx3D9
About 50 firefighters and 30 police officers took part in the rescue operation.
Bamberg: Eine tote Person bei Brand in Asylunterkunft https://t.co/ph9BbQnlq5 #oberfranken #feuer pic.twitter.com/xl7MaIc8WZ
— TV Oberfranken (@tv_oberfranken) November 15, 2017
According to BR24, the police have ruled out arson.
READ MORE: Fire in Migrant Center in Western Germany Injures About 50
Cases of fires in refugee camps in Germany have increased since 2015 when Germany opened its doors to more than 1 million refugees, the largest number of migrants accepted among Western European countries. However, hopes that newcomers would integrate in German society have largely failed to come true, which has prompted severe criticisms of the government's migration policy and strong nationalist sentiments in the country.
