Two workers die when a staircase collapses at a school construction site

Two construction workers died when concrete stairs collapsed at a school construction site in Gronau in western Münsterland (North Rhine-Westphalia). Two other people suffered injuries in the industrial accident, as the city of Gronau and the police announced. There was initially no further information available about her state of health.

The cause of the accident is not yet known. The police are investigating and the Occupational Safety and Health Office is also involved. Several media outlets had previously reported.

According to the police's initial findings, the industrial accident occurred in a large shaft into which prefabricated staircases were being lifted and assembled by crane. A police spokesman said parts of the stairs for several floors had already been constructed when they suddenly collapsed. Two workers among them were killed. It is unclear whether a large section of stairs fell from the crane or whether the structure collapsed.

According to the city, rescue workers rushed to the scene of the accident on Thursday afternoon with a large contingent. This is an extension of a school. In addition to 35 firefighters, an emergency doctor, three ambulance teams, police officers, two technical relief agency consultants and the crew of a rescue helicopter were on duty. According to the city, air rescue was not needed to transport the injured.

At the time of the accident, 15 people were working on the construction site, the city said. Emergency pastors look after construction workers on site. Since it is still the fall break, there were no students or teachers on site. The school management of the high school and a comprehensive school were informed about the accident. School operations are expected to resume after the end of the fall break. The final release rests with the criminal police.