Resident jumps to safety after Berlin high-rise fire

The blaze broke out in a high-rise apartment block in Friedrichshain, Berlin (Christophe Gateau/dpa via AP)

At least five people were injured after a fire in a 21-storey Berlin high-rise led to some residents consider jumping to escape the flames, local media reported.

The severity of the injuries was not immediately known, German news agency dpa said. All of the building’s residents were evacuated and the fire was brought under control.

One person was forced to jump into a fire engine’s aerial basket, dpa reported. A fire department spokesperson described the rescue operation as “dramatic”.

It was not immediately known how far the person jumped.

The blaze broke out around 6.30am on Friday in the Friedrichshain area near the Ostbahnhof train station. It was brought under control in under three hours, dpa reported.

It started in an apartment on the 11th floor and spread to the unit above, dpa reported. The fire’s cause was not immediately known either.