After the massive explosion in an apartment building in Eschweiler, four people are in mortal danger. Among them are a two-month-old baby and his mother, said Axel Johnen, head of the Eschweiler fire department, on Friday afternoon. The rescue workers had initially spoken of two life-threatening injuries.

According to Johnen, 14 people were injured in the explosion and subsequent fire. Two firefighters were also injured during the rescue work. There were burn injuries and smoke inhalation, Johnen said.

The explosion shook a residential and commercial building in the city northeast of Aachen on Thursday evening. The blast also unleashed a fire in the building, part of which is now in danger of collapsing.

Investigators are assuming it was a gas explosion. It is therefore unclear whether an accident or third-party fault has occurred. "We are investigating in all directions," said a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office in Aachen.