German building evacuated 72 people in wake of London-style cladding

The city of Wuppertal has evacuated around 72 people from an 11-storey block of flats after it was found to contain flammable materials.

Berlin, June 28: A German city has evacuated residents from a 11-storey apartment building in western Germany's Wuppertal city in the wake of the London's Grenfell fire - as fears about cladding spread to Europe.

Residents of the 30-m (nearly 100-foot) tower will be allowed to return home once the cladding, which is used to provide insulation and protect buildings against the elements, is removed, city officials said on Tuesday.

Officials began inspecting buildings following the Grenfell Tower fire and decided to evacuate this property, Efe news reported. The apartment building, located in Wuppertal's Langerfeld district, is home to 72 people.

Residents were allowed to pack one suitcase containing personal items, city officials said. The tower's residents are being provided with temporary housing by the city. A faulty refrigerator is being blamed for the June 14 blaze at Grenfell Tower, but investigators concluded that the insulation panels caused the fire to spread rapidly, trapping large numbers of sleeping residents in their apartments.

IANS