Fire drama on Christmas Eve: 84-year-old seriously injured in Karlsruhe!

Fire drama on Christmas Eve: 84-year-old seriously injured in Karlsruhe!

On December 23, 2024, just one day before Christmas Eve, several alarming incidents were reported in Baden-Württemberg. In Karlsruhe, an 84-year-old woman was seriously injured when she tried to put out a fire on her Advent wreath herself. The fire brigade extinguished the fire, while the criminal investigation department began investigating the cause of the fire daily news reported. In Limbach (Neckar-Odenwald district), an 82-year-old also died after a house fire in which the flames spread to an adjacent residential building. The fire made the building uninhabitable and police estimate the damage at several hundred thousand euros. The investigation into the cause is ongoing.

Economic challenges before the festival

Retailers in Baden-Württemberg are hoping for a spending spree in the final hours before the festival after Christmas business last weekend fell short of expectations. According to the Baden-Württemberg trade association, the number of customers in the city centers had fallen, which was attributed to uncertainty after the attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg. Retailers are now banking on strong sales on December 23rd and 24th, traditionally the busiest days of the year. Meanwhile, the catering industry is suffering from an economic downturn, which is being exacerbated by cost-cutting measures taken by car companies. Many guests spend less, which further burdens the situation of restaurateurs, according to Dehoga regional manager Fritz Engelhardt.

There was also an accident on the A5 in which a vehicle crashed into a truck and two people were injured; the highway remains closed for the time being. While preparations for Christmas are in full swing, the weather forecasts are reporting unpleasant weather with snow and rain, which poses additional challenges for people when shopping for gifts SWR Current pointed out.