Huge fire burns German lab studying origins of universeStaff WritersDeutsche Presse AgenturFri, 6 February 2026 1:26AM
A short circuit has sparked a massive fire at a physics laboratory in the western German city of Darmstadt, with the facility’s particle accelerator affected.
The fire at the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research caused extensive damage to the property, the fire brigade and officials at the centre said.
No one was injured, authorities said.
The short circuit occurred during preparations to power up the facility, involving its high-voltage power supply, a spokesman for the centre said.
He was unable to provide further details about the damage, including the impact on the accelerator.
Another spokesperson for the centre earlier told journalists at the site that the fire had damaged cables, electrical equipment and office furnishings.
The GSI Helmholtz Centre is known for its heavy-ion accelerator.
Heavy ion accelerators concentrate positively charged atoms into beams and propel them at extremely high speeds within magnetic fields.
The site conducts high-level physics experiments designed to probe the structure of matter and the origins of the universe.
A new accelerator complex is under construction at the site.
The centre said this project was not directly affected by the fire, although the blaze’s full impact had yet to be determined.
The new accelerator is intended to help research questions in areas such as space exploration and medicine.
In 2024, the estimated cost was approximately 3.3 billion euro ($A5.6 billion).
Initial experiments are scheduled to begin at the end of 2027, with research using the new 1.1km-long accelerator ring commencing at the end of 2028.
Approximately 130 emergency personnel from Darmstadt and neighbouring districts were deployed to the scene.
The site was evacuated by security personnel, and employees were ordered to leave the grounds.
Firefighting operations are expected to continue late into Thursday evening.
Police investigators are scheduled to begin their probe into the cause of the fire once the site is declared safe.
Nearby residents were warned about hazardous smoke and advised to keep windows and doors closed and to switch off ventilation systems.
Specialised units have been conducting air quality measurements throughout the morning.
According to the fire department, no hazardous substances have been detected in the air so far.
with Reuters
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