Hospital fire in northern Germany kills two

At least two people have died and at least one injured after a fire broke out in the roof structure of a hospital in the northern German town of Ludwigslust early on Thursday, officials and police said.

Initial reports spoke of dozens of injured, but officials now say just one person was injured after inhaling smoke.

The two fatalities were both patients at the facility, regional authorities said, according to Germany's dpa news agency.

What do we know about the fire in Ludwigslust?

The cause of the blaze at the hospital remains unclear.

According to broadcaster NDR, the fire broke out in a room with patients, spreading to the roof of the radiology department.

It said the fire was now under control.

Many patients and staff were evacuated from the facility, which, according to the hospital's internet page, has 160 beds.

Police said traffic near the hospital had been considerably disrupted.

The initial reports of dozens of injured were based only on the number of people being medically examined at the scene, who were mostly found to have been unharmed, officials said.

The hospital is the only one in the town.

Ludwigslust is located in the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, 40 km (25 miles) south of the state capital, Schwerin.

This is a developing story. More to follow...

Edited by: Karl Sexton

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