Regensburg explosion: Rescuers recover two bodies from the rubble
A day after an explosion in a residential building, two bodies have been found. Whether they are the two missing residents is still unclear. A gas leak is among the scenarios being examined.
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Following the explosion at a residential complex in Regensburg, rescue workers on Thursday recovered two bodies from the rubble. The first was discovered around noon during clearance work with an excavator, and the second was recovered at around 3:15 p.m. Police said it was initially unclear whether they were the two residents previously reported missing; their identities are to be established through autopsies.
The explosion occurred at around 3:50 a.m. on Wednesday, destroying much of the four-story building; debris reached the building opposite and the fire spread to the roof structure. Four people were taken to hospital, and a police officer suffered smoke inhalation during the rescue. Up to 150 firefighters, more than 70 emergency medical staff, nearly 100 personnel from the THW disaster relief agency and more than 60 police officers were deployed.
Police and specialists from the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office are examining the site; a gas leak is one of the scenarios under review. Whether it was an accident or a deliberate act has not yet been determined. The complex is closed off, and some residents stayed with relatives or in hotels.