Overview
- Police said the 60-year-old contractor who died in hospital Thursday was the fifth victim, leaving no survivors from the April 16 incident.
- Autopsies point to hydrogen sulfide poisoning as the main cause after an early focus on carbon monoxide proved unlikely.
- Investigators are examining whether workers had respiratory protection and whether gas readings were taken in the pit, with expert reports not expected soon.
- Rescuers recovered five men from a site clarifier on April 16, where three died at the scene and two were rushed to hospitals before a 35-year-old and then the 60-year-old died.
- Runkel’s mayor reported about €17,000 in donations for families and roughly €6,000 for responders, and the victims’ funerals are being arranged privately at relatives’ request.