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Fire with Fatality in Vienna City: Investigations Launched

Die Spiegelgasse in Wien hat einen Brand gesehen.
Die Spiegelgasse in Wien hat einen Brand gesehen. ©APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH
There was a fire in Spiegelgasse in the 1st district of Vienna on the night of Tuesday.

After a fire with one fatality in Spiegelgasse in Vienna's city center, the police began investigations on Tuesday. The circumstances of the discovery of the body were "concerning," according to spokeswoman Anna Gutt. The man was found lifeless in the basement after the Vienna fire department was called to the fire in the city late Monday evening. The Vienna State Criminal Police Office is now investigating.

Nighttime Fire in Vienna City Center

The emergency services were alerted at 11:00 PM, as fire department spokesman Christian Feiler told the APA. Eight vehicles rushed to the scene of the fire. 35 men extinguished the fire by 3:00 AM. In the course of this, the lifeless person was discovered and handed over to the Vienna professional rescue service. Resuscitation measures were unsuccessful.

The identity of the man has been clarified. However, since the relatives could not yet be informed, the police withheld this information. For investigative reasons, the authorities also did not want to disclose any details. An autopsy was already underway on Tuesday. The police hope for initial results in the afternoon or evening.

Challenging Investigative Work

The investigative work proved difficult. The officers of the State Criminal Police Office were initially unable to enter the multi-story, maze-like basement because the rooms were completely filled with smoke. The building first had to be ventilated. However, around 11:00 AM, another fire broke out, presumably due to embers that reignited through the ventilation. Only when the basement is completely smoke-free can the forensic team begin their work. Whether the fire was set intentionally was still unclear.

(APA/Red)

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