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A fire engine while driving (symbolic image)
Photo: Julian Stratenschulte / dpa
The battery of an e-bike exploded in an apartment in Lengerich and caused damage of around 200,000 euros.
The resident had put the smoking and crackling battery in the bathtub shortly before the explosion and brought himself and his wife to safety, the police announced on Monday.
Due to the pressure wave, the door and its frame were torn out of the masonry and flown into the hallway.
According to the police, the apartment in the apartment building is no longer habitable.
The couple had been watching TV in the living room on Friday evening when they heard a dull bang.
Both would have initially thought of a fallen picture.
In the dining room, the man then discovered the smoking battery, which was lying next to other electrical appliances and was not connected to a charger.
The man took the battery and put it in the bathtub before leaving the apartment with his wife.
When the two were standing at the door, the battery exploded.
According to the police, the couple suffered slight smoke poisoning.
All the other residents of the house were unharmed and were able to return to their apartments that evening.
The fire brigade was in action with almost 30 emergency services and nine vehicles.
E-bike batteries caught fire have already caused accidents several times.
It is not yet clear why the Lengerich Akku explosion occurred.
According to experts, in most cases improper repair or storage is the cause of an explosion.
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svs / dpa