House collapsed
Injured in explosion in residential building in The Hague
Five people have died in the partial collapse of a residential building in The Hague following an explosion. The fire department announced on Saturday evening that one survivor had been pulled from the rubble hours after the accident. He and three other injured people were taken to hospital.
The police have not ruled out the possibility of a deliberate explosion. They issued an appeal for witnesses to a car that was seen shortly after the explosion in the early morning and then sped away.
Number of missing persons unclear
"It is not known how many people are still under the rubble, but the fact is that there is only a small chance of survival for them," said The Hague's mayor Jan van Zanen at a press conference in the afternoon. In the evening, however, the fire department reported that one person had been rescued alive from the rubble. He had been taken to hospital. At the same time, the rescue services feared that the death toll could rise further.
According to the police, at least five homes were destroyed. The local news platform "Regio15" had previously reported that apartments on several floors had been destroyed as a result of the explosion.
Search for a suspicious car
It was also unclear what caused the explosion and the fire in the building near the city center. Shortly after the explosion at around 06.15 a.m., a car drove off "at very high speed", the police later explained. Officers called on witnesses to come forward with any information or camera footage of the vehicle.
As a reporter from the AFP news agency reported, forensic experts arrived at the scene to begin an investigation into the cause of the explosion. According to the authorities, the building housed stores and five two-storey apartments.
Clouds of smoke over the scene
Huge clouds of smoke hung over the explosion site. Several cars in the area were burnt out. Dozens of fire engines were on the scene, debris scattered in the street. Police helicopters were circling over the scene.
According to the fire department, they initially had to fight the flames in the morning before they managed to extinguish the fire. Vehicles later arrived to clear the rubble.
The authorities asked residents of the neighborhood to keep doors and windows closed. "The fire is generating a lot of smoke in the immediate neighborhood," they warned.
Residents told local media that the apartment block was mainly inhabited by elderly people and families with children. Around 40 residents of other blocks of flats near the collapsed building were evacuated. Some were taken to safety by bus.
"Suddenly there was a huge bang"
"I was asleep and suddenly there was a huge bang," said 14-year-old resident Adam Muller. Another resident named Dimi said: "It was like an earthquake." Something had collapsed, "but we couldn't see where it came from," said the 53-year-old. "I know these neighbors. My children go to school with them."
Head of government Dick Schoof said he was "shocked by the terrible images" from the explosion site. His thoughts are with the victims, all others affected and the emergency services on the scene, Schoof explained in the online service X. He assured the authorities of all necessary help. Dutch King Willem-Alexander also expressed his condolences to those affected in online networks.
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