Advertisement

One body found in Cologne archive rubble

DDP/The Local
DDP/The Local - [email protected]
One body found in Cologne archive rubble
Photo: DPA

Early Sunday morning, rescuers retrieved one corpse from the rubble of the Cologne historical archive that collapsed Tuesday. The search continues for a second man believed to buried in as much as four metres of debris.

Advertisement

Complicating efforts is the extreme instability of the site, the Cologne fire department said on Sunday. Several neighbouring buildings are in danger of collapse and rainfall expected on Sunday could make the rubble even more unstable.

Rescue services are building an emergency roof over the site to prevent more moisture from seeping into the debris, which also contains priceless artefacts detailing the city’s long history.

Authorities said the body would be identified later today at a morgue in Cologne. The two young men are thought to have died in the accident, when their apartments in neighbouring buildings also collapsed with the archive. One of the men is believed to be a 17 year-old baker's apprentice, the other a 23-year-old design student.

There is speculation the construction of a subway tunnel in front of the archive building may have contributed to its collapse. The site reportedly had repeated problems with groundwater leaking into the tunnel, which could have weakened the building’s foundations.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also