BERLIN — A gas explosion from a mobile heater started a fire at a workshop for disabled people in Germany that killed 14 and injured nine others, authorities said Tuesday.
The explosion occurred when gas leaking from the heater in the workshop caught fire, prosecutor Peter Haeberle said at a televised news conference in the southwestern town of Titisee-Neustadt, where theblaze occurred. It was not immediately clear why the gas caught fire.
Haeberle said all evidence points to an accident and there’s no indication the fire was started deliberately. However, prosecutors have opened an investigation into the possibility of negligent manslaughter and arson.
The fire broke out Monday at the center, which employs some 120 people with mentalor physical disabilities in a variety of jobs, including metalwork, woodwork and electrical installation.
A 50-year-old supervisor died along with 13 disabled people - 10 women and three men, ages 28 to 68 - all of whom were in the room where the explosion occurred, police said.
None of the nine people injured was in life-threatening condition Tuesday.
Front Section, Pages 3 on 11/28/2012