Three young people from Kerala who moved to Germany in search of better career opportunities have tragically lost their lives in a residential building fire in Bochum.

The victims were identified as Anjali S Joy (27) from Kollam, Nova Sabu (25) from Idukki and Sivin Johny (25) from Ernakulam.

The fire broke out around 4:15 am local time on October 13, 2026. German authorities arrested a 41-year-old Romanian national on suspicion of murder, while an investigation into the incident continues.

The tragedy has devastated three families in Kerala, who learned about the deaths on Wednesday after desperately seeking updates about their loved ones.

Kerala victims in Germany had dreams of building successful careers

Anjali S Joy moved to Germany in July 2026 after struggling to secure a teaching job in Kerala.

Despite completing her Bachelor of Education degree and appearing for government recruitment examinations, she could not find her preferred position. She eventually accepted warehouse employment in Germany, hoping to build a stable future.

Anjali regularly called her parents, Joy and Sheela. When she failed to contact them on Tuesday, her worried father reached out to a relative living nearby, who later discovered the tragedy.

Sivin Johny, from Ernakulam, arrived in Germany on September 14 with a work visa. He had planned to begin a new job on October 12 and was staying with his younger brother, Salvin, a nursing student in Germany.

His family was looking forward to his new career, making his sudden death particularly heartbreaking.

Nova Sabu, from Idukki, had moved to Germany just two-and-a-half months earlier to pursue her passion for fitness training.

An enthusiastic sportsperson, she had worked as a gym trainer in Kerala and earned an international certification before moving abroad.

Her relatives received confirmation of her death through members of the Malayali community in Germany.

Romanian suspect arrested as NORKA assists grieving families

According to German news agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur, police arrested a 41-year-old Romanian national who lived in the building on suspicion of murder.

The exact circumstances surrounding the fire remain under investigation.

Relatives said they received information suggesting the victims were sleeping upstairs when smoke spread through the building. They reportedly lost consciousness after inhaling smoke, although the official causes of death have not been confirmed.

Meanwhile, Kerala's Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) is coordinating with the Indian Embassy and expatriate organisations to arrange the repatriation of the victims' remains.

The incident has deeply affected the Malayali community in Germany, where many young people from Kerala have moved for education and employment.

For Anjali, Nova and Sivin, Germany represented an opportunity to achieve their ambitions and support their families. Their untimely deaths have left loved ones grieving as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the devastating fire.