More than 12 hours after the explosion which cost the lives of a 43-year-old Italian and a 24-year-old Swiss in Obersiggenthal (AG), the after-effects are still clearly visible. Already in the air, the smell of smoke is still present. On the ground, the foam sprayed by firefighters to control the fire mixes with large puddles of water caused by the rain. Here and there, a few onlookers observe the emergency services working to extricate cars from the underground parking lot where the explosion occurred.
One of them, a resident of the neighborhood, explains: “First, there was a huge noise, everything shook. Three or four other detonations followed, probably from the batteries of the electric cars in the garage. A version of the facts which has not been confirmed by the police. For the moment, it has contented itself with explaining that the explosion was undoubtedly caused by fireworks stored in the parking lot in question. And to specify that the subsequent incidents had been brought under control during the night.
The residents of the damaged building, for their part, were gradually allowed to return to their homes throughout the day. Mohammad, 23, was able to do so, but the place is not habitable. “The firefighters had to break through the front door of the apartment to evacuate my mother who was trapped inside,” he explains. While waiting for the door to be replaced, the young man and his mother will live with a relative.
Other tenants have not yet had the chance to return home. A couple in their forties who live on the tenth floor of the building testify: “Our cats are still inside, we haven’t been able to take care of them yet.” Another resident explains that she fears the state in which she will find her apartment. Everyone is therefore impatiently waiting for the green light from the police.
