An explosion has struck a three-story block of flats in The Hague, causing a devastating fire and the collapse of several homes in the city’s Tarwekamp area, police have confirmed.
The blast occurred around 06:15 local time (05:15 GMT).
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Emergency services responded quickly, with firefighters working to extinguish the blaze and rescuers searching for survivors.
Up to 20 people are believed to have been inside the building at the time. So far, four individuals have been pulled from the rubble, though rescue efforts are ongoing.
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. However, Dutch police reported that a car sped away from the scene shortly after the blast and have appealed for witnesses to come forward. Local media reported that five flats were destroyed in the explosion.
Rescue teams, including sniffer dogs, have been deployed to search through the debris, but certain sections of the site are still too dangerous to enter.
Adam Muller, a 14-year-old eyewitness, described the moment of the explosion to the AFP news agency: “It felt like an earthquake. I was asleep, and suddenly there was this huge bang. I looked out of the window and saw flames. It’s a massive shock.”
National police commissioner Janny Knol acknowledged the sense of “disbelief and uncertainty” within the community following the incident.
Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima expressed their solidarity in a statement, saying, “We sympathise with all those who have been personally affected or who fear for the fate of their loved ones.”
Authorities are expected to provide an update at 15:00 local time (14:00 GMT) as rescue and investigative efforts continue.
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