Though firefighters worked through the night, they could not prevent thousands of electric bicycles and lithium batteries stored inside from being destroyed.
By Thursday morning, over 20 fire brigades remained on-site, carefully dousing lingering hotspots and sifting through the charred remains.
The warehouse, built under the former Zakłady Naprawcze Taboru Kolejowego (“Railway Rolling Stock Repair Works”) and listed as a historic monument since 2002, stands as a significant reminder of Gdańsk’s industrial heritage.
Public concern quickly turned to potential health hazards, prompting the Government Security Centre to advise residents to shut windows and avoid the area, as thick plumes of smoke rose above the city’s skyline.
While the prevailing wind caused constant shifts in smoke direction, no large-scale evacuations were ordered.
Local authorities confirmed that around 60 individuals had evacuated the site before firefighters arrived, and only one man required hospital assessment after feeling unwell.
Although partial roof collapse hindered rescue efforts, innovative firefighting methods – including a drone equipped with thermal imaging and a firefighting robot – helped contain the blaze. Investigators, alongside a fire safety expert, will now determine the cause of the catastrophe.
(jh)
Source: IAR, PAP, Polskie Radio 24, TVP Info