Risk of collapse in Bergisch Gladbach: apartment building evacuated!

Risk of collapse in Bergisch Gladbach: apartment building evacuated!

On January 19, 2025, the alarm fell in Bergisch Gladbach: At 11:40 a.m., a resident of an apartment building in Odenthaler Strasse reported on his building. He feared that the stability of the house might be at risk and then informed the fire brigade. This immediately sent a team of fire and rescue station 1 and the B service to the location. On site, the emergency services confirmed the alarming cracks caused by construction work on an adjacent building pit.

The assessment made by the operations manager revealed that there was a serious risk of collapse. Another proof of the urgency of the situation was the fact that the doorstep of the apartment building could no longer be opened properly. An evacuation of the house with three residents was initiated immediately.

coordinated operational measures

In order to bundle the effects of this dangerous situation, the Rhine Energy disorder was requested in order to switch off the building and gas supply of the building. In view of the danger situation, Odenthaler Straße between Jägerstraße and Gertrudenstraße was closed to traffic. In order to continue to ensure security, the Technical Relief Agency (THW) let a construction consultant move to support.

The construction consultant confirmed the assessment manager's assessment and requested a stopover system (ESS) to monitor the stability of the building. This system, which registers the smallest movements in the building, should help recognize risks at an early stage. Measurements of the ESS were continued all evening, while another adjacent building was also monitored, in this case no evacuation was necessary.

For logistical support, the fire truck 7 from the city center was also alerted. The head of the Bergisch Gladbach regulatory authority was integrated into the situation and coordinated the essential steps, including the necessity of road closures and diversions as well as communication with the construction supervision, which should decide on the further procedure.

statistical background

These incidents give rise to a closer look at the general security situation in North Rhine-Westphalia. In 2022, over 2.4 million traffic accidents were counted, of which 289,672 accidents with personal injury and 2,788 fatal accidents were registered. In comparison, the figures were around 2.3 million accidents in 2021. The traffic accident statistics for 2023 also shows a challenging situation for the region with a total of 637,365 accidents.

The current events in Bergisch Gladbach once again illustrate the dangers that can result from inadequate construction work. Compliance with security standards is crucial to avoid dangerous situations and ensure the safety of the residents. For municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia such as Bergisch Gladbach, it is essential to take watchful measures to prevent danger to prevent similar incidents in the future