ST. GALLEN, Switzerland — May 19, 2026

A devastating fire tore through a multi-family residence in St. Gallen in the early hours of Tuesday, resulting in nine injuries and two missing persons, while causing structural damage estimated at several hundred thousand Swiss francs.

Emergency Response

Firefighters and emergency personnel arrived at the scene shortly after 3:30 a.m. following reports of a fully engulfed multi-family home. Approximately 80 firefighters, along with various patrol units and specialized services from the St. Gallen city and cantonal police, were deployed to contain the blaze.

The fire reportedly broke out around 3:00 a.m., with emergency services receiving the first call at approximately 3:30 a.m. Despite the rapid response, the intensity of the flames made rescue operations challenging. Authorities confirmed that 19 residents were present in the building at the time of the incident.