Major operation

Fire department rescues seriously injured person from apartment

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

(Bild: Kantonspolizei St. Gallen)

Dramatic scenes unfolded after a fire on the Swiss shore of Lake Constance in Rorschach on Saturday night. The fire department managed to rescue a 29-year-old woman from the third floor of an apartment building in time. Four other residents were also injured.  

It is not known why the fire broke out shortly after midnight in an apartment building in Kirchstrasse. Staff from the cantonal police's Forensics Competence Center are still investigating.

The only thing that is clear so far is that the fire broke out on the third floor. When the fire department arrived on the scene at around 0.30 a.m., the third floor was completely filled with smoke. A 29-year-old woman living there was seriously injured and taken out of her apartment by the firefighters. She was then taken to hospital by ambulance.

The other residents were able to leave the apartment building on their own. However, four of them had also suffered injuries and were taken to various hospitals.

Major damage to property 
The fire caused property damage worth tens of thousands of francs. The local fire department with around 60 members, the rescue service with several vehicles and specialist medical personnel as well as several patrols and specialists from the St. Gallen cantonal police were deployed. A public prosecutor, a representative of the municipality and an employee of the building insurance company were also deployed.