A 35 year old man, one of the two workers who were injured after a tannery accident on 16 April 2026 in Runkel, Hesse, Germany, where three people died, also died on Wednesday, 22 April 2026, raising the death toll to four, police confirmed, according to local media reports.
The accident happened at a tannery site in Runkel and involved multiple workers. The 35 year old had been hospitalised after the incident but later died from severe injuries.
Earlier, 3 employees aged 38, 58 and 59 were found dead inside a collection pit at the tannery.
Read: Three Dead and Two Found in Critical Condition at German Tannery in Hesse
2 other men were rescued with injuries. One was a factory employee and the other worked for a pipe cleaning company from Montabaur in Rhineland-Palatinate. It was not clear which of them was the 35 year old who later died.
Authorities believe the men entered the pit one after another and collapsed.
Multiple media reports suggest different causes of the deaths. Some say the workers died due to carbon monoxide poisoning inside the pit, while others point to hydrogen sulfide poisoning. Forensic teams examined three bodies on Tuesday evening, but the results are still pending. The exact cause is not yet confirmed and Leathernews.org will update once the forensic reports are released.
The incident has shocked the town of Runkel, which has a population of 9,500. On 17 April 2026, residents gathered for a memorial service to pray for the victims.
