An explosion on a residential street in the center of the Dutch city of Utrecht injured at least four people Thursday, an emergency services official said. The cause of the blast was not immediately known.
Several people were injured after a powerful explosion sparked a fire in a building in central Utrecht, one of the Netherlands’ largest cities, on Thursday afternoon.
The blast triggered a major fire and caused extensive damage, forcing people to flee into nearby shopping areas. Fire crews worked to contain the flames but were unable to immediately enter the affected buildings due to concerns over structural instability.
Local authorities said that multiple structures collapsed following the explosion and confirmed that four people were injured. They were taken to an emergency hospital for medical care.
By Thursday evening, the fire was still ongoing. Authorities said it was unclear whether anyone remained inside the damaged building, as conditions were too dangerous for firefighters to search the site.
Utrecht Mayor Sharon Dijksma said emergency services were unsure whether people were trapped beneath the debris, noting that rubble was present and that police were continuing their investigation.
An emergency services spokesperson, Sjaak Haasnoot, said the injured individuals were taken to a hospital in the city, adding that the severity of their injuries was not immediately known. Officials also said it remained unclear whether there were any fatalities.
“It is very difficult at the moment to say how many victims are under the rubble,” Haasnoot said. “The fire department cannot enter the building because it is still unstable.”
Local authorities said there was ”extensive damage” in this densely populated area of the town, adding the cause of the explosion was still unknown.
Residents who had to leave their homes for safety reasons have been accommodated in a hotel nearby.
With inputs from agencies
End of Article
