+++ UPDATE 14:45 +++
Although individual embers flare up once more and once more, the fire is under control. The post-extinguishing work will take an estimated three to four hours. According to the current status, there are no injured or missing persons. A total of 100 emergency services are deployed.
The multi-storey car park in the hotel building is expected to be closed for the rest of the day because firefighting water sometimes runs in from above. According to the fire department, the parking garage is two-thirds full of cars. After the extinguishing work is completed, a security service will guard the hotel to protect the property of the hotel, guests and those of the businesses below.
The Bielefeld police will confiscate the entire hotel building to investigate the cause of the fire. An appraiser must also clarify to what extent the building will still be habitable in the future.
Here you can listen to some of our reports on the fire once more.
+++UPDATE 13:45+++
As the fire department informed us, no more people are missing. 29 guests from the hotel might be brought to safety in time. The fourth and fifth floors of the building on the corner of Waldhof, Neustädter Straße and Welle are in danger of collapsing. Therefore, the firefighters cannot use the stairwell, the extinguishing work is carried out using turntable ladders. In the meantime, a turntable ladder had broken down, which caused additional problems. There are still isolated flames.
+++ 12:30 +++
In the old town of Bielefeld there is a major fire in the Golden Tulip Hotel at Waldhof, on the corner of Neustädter Straße and Welle. At around 12:18 p.m., the Bielefeld fire brigade received the alarm and the roof structure of the building was on fire. Large clouds of smoke formed. The extinguishing work continues. According to the fire department, several people are missing. There have been no reports of injuries so far, a police spokeswoman told us.
The alarm was received by the fire brigade at 12:18 p.m. on Wednesday followingnoon (20 July). The background to the fire is still unclear.
Surrounding houses such as the Wellehaus were evacuated shortly following 12 noon. The police have set up barriers in several places and are asking people in the city center to keep a sufficient distance from the fire so as not to hinder the rescue work. In addition, falling parts such as roof tiles cannot be ruled out.
The NINA warning app warns people in downtown Bielefeld regarding smoke gases and odor nuisance: health problems cannot be ruled out.
This page is continuously updated.