By Ole Kröning, Emma Neugebauer and Jörg Bergmann
Bad news for the 300 residents of the flood house on Leipziger Strasse: it will be at least two weeks before they can return to their apartments!
After the mega accident caused by a burst extinguishing water pipe in the high-rise building, Monday was the day of the experts. Electricians, building drying specialists, construction experts, the district office and representatives of the housing association Berlin-Mitte (WBM) got an overview of the damage. A crisis team was set up.
Comforting: The structural devastation in the 20-storey is limited. WBM has set up a hotline for the tenants affected: ☎ (030) 24 71 44 44 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Tenants stand in front of their sealed apartment building. An official notice provides information about the closure due to the danger to public safety and order Photo: Jörg Bergmann, private
But: “The biggest problem is the water damage to the electrical wiring in the residential property. The work is expected to take two weeks. The apartments are not habitable until then,” says WBM spokesman Matthias Borowski.
According to BZ information, the floods falling through openings, shafts and cracks destroyed the main power lines between the basement and the 11th floor. Replacements must be obtained for the 20-year-old junction boxes.
The water even tumbled down the facade for an hour. Also through elevators, ventilation shafts and corridors between the 11th floor and the basement. The wallpaper was peeling off the walls in the apartments Photo: Jörg Bergmann, private
According to the WBM, residents should be able to take personal belongings out of their apartments on Wednesday and Thursday, accompanied by an escort. Antje (53) and Thomas (54) Rüster would also be happy about that. The couple lives on the 9th floor.
Antje (53) and Thomas (54) Rüster were on vacation until Sunday. You can’t go into the apartment, neither can you work. The key to the self-employed painter’s company car is in the apartment on the 9th floor Photo: Jörg Bergmann, private
Antje Rüster has tears in her eyes: “We came back from vacation in South Tyrol on Sunday and didn’t come into the apartment. I have no idea what the furniture looks like or what the status of important documents is.” Thomas Rüster runs a small painting business, the key to the company car is still in the apartment.
Tenant Mohammed A. (37) stayed with his brother with his wife and four children (4, 8, 9 and nine months). Because it was very tight there, he slept in the car. WBM has now arranged for the family a temporary apartment on Fischerinsel Photo: Joerg Bergmann
The businesses on the first floor, a music kindergarten and two medical practices should be able to reopen on Tuesday, as they have their own power supply and separate escape routes.
