UELZEN (dpa-AFX) - Investigations are continuing into the cause of the fire following the clinic fire in Uelzen, Lower Saxony, which left five people dead. Witnesses were also questioned over the weekend and fire investigators are on duty, a police spokesman said on Monday. An appointment with a fire expert was planned for the afternoon. According to the police, the deceased were all patients at the hospital. They were two women aged 87 and 94 and three men aged 55, 64 and 67.

Three of the victims died in the Uelzen hospital, two others after being transferred to other hospitals. The police also reported a double-digit number of injuries, including serious injuries. Initial estimates put the total damage at over one million euros.

Helios Klinikum Uelzen is planning a prayer service and a minute's silence on Wednesday. The aim is to remember the deceased, the injured and the people who are still fighting for their lives. According to the hospital, a minute's silence is planned for 10.48 a.m. on that day, twelve hours after the fire alarm system goes off. The automatic emergency call to the fire department was received on Thursday evening at 10.48 p.m./tst/DP/men