A fire at the Ebertplatz subway station in Köln on Sunday morning prompted significant disruptions to public transportation, leaving residents and commuters concerned until the situation was brought under control. The incident began around 8:45 AM when the fire alarm was triggered by heavy smoke emanation initiated by electrical maintenance. Emergency response was swift, spearheaded by the Kölner Feuerwehr, which mobilized approximately 58 firefighters and 19 vehicles to manage the situation.
According to reports, the fire erupted during maintenance work on electrical equipment, leading to significant smoke. Just after 9:41 AM, the NINA alert app notified residents to avoid the area, advising them to keep windows and doors closed to mitigate inhalation risks. Fire officials informed the public, "By 10:55 AM, electric power was shut off by the service provider, allowing firefighters to apply specialized extinguishing agents. The firefighting efforts concluded by approximately 11:30 AM." Meanwhile, it was confirmed from the city's communication channels, "There is no immediate danger, but the situation still necessitates caution until complete clearance of smoke and potential contaminants."
The response teams worked tirelessly to ventilate the affected subway sections and control the scene, and by noon, the intense risk associated with smoke was alleviated. A technical worker involved suffered minor injuries but did not require hospitalization, sustained during the incident, as stated by police sources: "The injured technician needed examination for possible smoke inhalation, though he was not hospitalized."
Reflecting the urgency of the situation, several public transport lines operated by Kölner Verkehrsbetriebe (KVB) were severely disrupted due to the fire. Public transport services were impacted across lines 12, 15, 16, 18, and 5, as many of these routes travel through the Ebertplatz station. Commuters were left scrambling to find alternative routes, with the KVB providing updated alerts on service changes: "Lines 12 and 15 are currently only operating between Ubierring and Zollstock Südfriedhof, and between Rudolfplatz and Merkenich or Mollwitzstraße, respectively. Lines 16 and 18 are being redirected from Barbarossaplatz to Koelnmesse. Line 5 is altered to operate from Friesenplatz through Neumarkt and Barbarossaplatz to Eifelwall."
The city advised local residents to avoid the area altogether, and the transport disruptions were expected to last throughout the day, limiting services until at least 10 PM. Though the fire was quickly extinguished and determined safe, the traveling public experienced significant inconveniences due to necessary service alterations as commuters adjusted to the continued disruption of service.
Overall, the rapid actions by the Kölner Feuerwehr, combined with swift communication from the KVB and city officials, helped manage what could have escalated to a severe situation for local residents and travelers passing through the busy Ebertplatz station. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of preparedness and rapid response capabilities when dealing with public safety incidents impacting urban infrastructure.
Now, with operations gradually resuming and infrastructure checks underway, local officials are ensuring measures are respected to maintain public safety and restore confidence among passengers. Despite the chaos of the day, officials anticipate normal transportation routines will be restored following thorough clearing efforts and technical assessments. "The impacted area is being monitored closely to guarantee safety before the reopening of services," confirmed KVB authorities.
There remains no immediate danger reported, and city officials are hopeful for the safe return of full operations before the evening rush hour arrives. The Köln transportation system hopes to recover fully and mitigate any long-term consequences for both residents and commuters as they navigate through routine travel once more.
