A rescue operation in a 21-story building in Berlin, Germany, ended with an impressive scene on Friday morning (14). Surrounded by smoke and flames, a woman had to jump from a window on the 11th floor to reach the platform of a fire department ladder, positioned two floors below.
Woman jumps from the 11th floor to escape fire in Berlin; look
A rescue operation in a 21-story building in Berlin, Germany, ended with an impressive scene on Friday morning (14). Surrounded by smoke and flames, a woman had to jump from a window on the 11th floor to reach the platform of a fire...
In the images, the woman appears on the window sill as the fire advances behind her. As the ladder used in the rescue only reached approximately the ninth floor, the firefighters advised her to jump to the platform basket.
- The woman followed instructions and launched herself towards the equipment, an area of just one to two square meters.
- A firefighter managed to catch her after the fall.
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The moment was recorded on video. In the images, the woman appears on the window sill as the fire advances behind her. As the ladder used in the rescue only reached approximately the ninth floor, the firefighters advised her to jump to the platform basket.
The woman followed instructions and launched herself towards the equipment, an area of just one to two square meters. A firefighter managed to catch her after the fall. According to the Berlin Fire Department, she suffered minor injuries. A spokesperson classified the rescue as a situation that was “at the limit”.
Fire started on the 11th floor
The fire started at around 6:27 am on a balcony on the 11th floor of the building, located on Straße der Pariser Kommune, in the Friedrichshain neighborhood, close to the Ostbahnhof station in Berlin. The flames quickly reached the apartment and spread to the upper floor.
Residents had to leave the building via the stairs while emergency teams worked to fight the fire and rescue people who were on the most affected floors.
At least 13 people were injured, according to information released by the German public service RBB based on data from firefighters. Five of them were taken by ambulance to hospitals. A rescue helicopter was available at the scene, but did not need to be used.
In total, 113 people received care from emergency teams, including to check for possible injuries. More than 130 firefighters participated in the operation, which also included psychosocial assistance professionals for residents who could not immediately return to their apartments.
Flames were controlled in less than three hours
The fire was controlled in the morning, in less than three hours. After putting out the flames, firefighters remained in the building to carry out inspections, eliminate remaining fires and ventilate the areas affected by the large amount of smoke.
Rescue mattresses were also prepared on the ground floor due to the risk of other residents trying to jump from the windows, but they were never used.
The cause of the fire had not been disclosed by authorities after it occurred.
See the video above.
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