At least nine people were killed and some 60 injured when a fire broke out in a four-storey building in the southwestern German city of Ludwigshafen, the police said on Monday.
Among the dead in the fire, which broke out on Sunday afternoon, were five children, the police said.
Rescue services found eight bodies when they arrived, and another person died later in hospital, the officials said, adding that some of the injured were in very critical condition.
According to the officials, the dead and injured were trapped when the stairwell in the brick building was engulfed in flames, which forced several people jump in panic from windows before rescue workers could set up a cushion.
Two small children were rescued unhurt when they were thrown out of windows and caught by police.
The injured include children, as well as police and fire officers.