A fire broke out at a hospital in the northern German town of Uelzen on Thursday night, claiming the lives of four people, as confirmed by local police on Friday. The cause of the blaze is still unknown. Additionally, the incident resulted in a significant number of injuries, with several individuals reported as seriously harmed, according to a spokesperson from Lueneburg police. The emergency response occurred at 10:45 pm (2145 GMT), where flames and substantial smoke were observed on the third floor when personnel arrived. Calls for assistance were audible from within the building, leading to the evacuation of the hospital while firefighters worked to extinguish the fire.

Initially, the police reported a single fatality in the blaze before revising the count on Friday. German media sources indicate that the four casualties were patients. Authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the fire, with estimated damages exceeding one million euros ($1.1 million).

The cause of the fire remained ambiguous, and an investigation was underway, exploring "all directions," as stated by the police spokesperson.