Baby survives four-storey drop as nine die in flat fire
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A desperate father spectacularly saved the life of his baby yesterday after he dropped the infant from the third floor of a burning building into the hands of a fireman.
But nine people including five children and a pregnant women were killed when a blaze scorched a block of flats in the southern German city of Ludwigshafen. It was not known last night whether the baby's parents were among the dead.
As flames engulfed the house, a group of adults could be seen at the window with a baby. On street level, rescue workers and firemen had gathered, their arms outstretched. Last night, the baby was said to be in a stable condition.
The incident occurred after the century-old block was used by revellers looking on at a carnival popular in Catholic areas of Germany which passed by in the street below. The heat of the fire was said to be so intense that a stairwell within the building collapsed. "It was just a pile of ashes," the local fire brigade chief, Peter Friedrich, said. "People were escaping through windows before we arrived at the scene."
Eva Lohse, the Ludwigshafen mayor, tearfully said: "The terrible images of children being brought out of the flames will remain with us for a long time. We are deeply shocked."
A witness, Rene Werse, said: "By the time the fire brigade arrived ... flames were licking the house and people began to jump."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments