Berlin: Three Malayalis, including two young women, were killed in a fire at a residential building in Bochum, Germany. Five others were injured in the incident, and police have arrested a 41-year-old Romanian national who lived in the same building.

The deceased have been identified as Nova Sabu (23), from Kochedattu in Irattyar Shanthigram; Anjali Sheela Joy, a native of Chamakkad in Kollam; and Sween Johny (26), a native of Kalady. Nova had moved to Germany for her studies three months ago. The three had moved into an apartment on the second floor of the building just two weeks before the incident.

The fire broke out early on Tuesday morning in a multi-storey residential building in the Hofstede area of Bochum. Firefighters found the three Indian nationals dead in an apartment on the second floor.

Five people who suffered smoke inhalation were taken to various hospitals in Bochum. Their nationalities have not yet been confirmed.

The fire spread rapidly up the staircase to the upper floors, hampering rescue operations. Firefighters were unable to enter the apartments and reach residents on the upper floors.

Investigators have ruled out a technical malfunction as the cause of the fire, according to reports. Police suspect that the fire may have been deliberately started. However, the investigation is ongoing to determine whether it was an act of arson or an accident.