An apartment building collapsed completely in an explosion in Hemer, Sauerland.
A police spokeswoman said on Friday evening on request that three people were seriously injured and several others were slightly injured.
Five people are still missing.
The cause of the explosion is still unclear.
The surrounding houses would be evacuated.
The fire brigade is on site in the rescue operation.
The area around the scene of the accident was cordoned off.
Eight people are officially registered as residents in the house.
Hemer is located near Iserlohn in the Märkisches Kreis.