A number of individuals have been injured after an explosion destroyed a three-storey residence block in The Hague.
The reason for the explosion within the Mariahoeve neighbourhood of the Dutch metropolis was unclear. Emergency authorities stated 4 individuals had been rescued and brought to hospital, however couldn’t say how many individuals should still be underneath the rubble.
Ambulances might be seen lining up in anticipation of extra victims. The spokesperson for the native hospital stated they had been on standby to take care of accidents.
Residents of the north-eastern neighbourhood stated they heard an enormous bang and screams earlier than daybreak. One girl informed native media she thought there had been an earthquake.
The Hague’s fireplace service stated: “At this second, the emergency providers are busy rescuing and trying to find individuals and combating the hearth.”
An Agence France-Presse reporter on the scene stated there have been dozens of fireside engines as firefighters battled the blaze from the bottom and from greater positions. Particles was strewn throughout the road and a number of other home windows within the neighborhood had been blown out, the reporter stated.
Big plumes of smoke had been billowing from a big gap the place the constructing stood, with an acrid odor within the air.
Metropolis officers stated: “The hearth is releasing a number of smoke within the quick neighborhood. Residents are suggested to shut home windows and doorways and switch off air flow.”
The Hague’s mayor, Jan van Zanen, was on web site to coordinate rescue efforts, in keeping with the Regio15 information web site.
Properties on a number of flooring appeared to have been destroyed by the explosion, stated Regio15. Early photos from the general public broadcaster NOS confirmed a number of dozen firefighters tackling a big blaze and breaking down doorways to realize entry to the block.
An image from the native information company ANP confirmed one particular person being taken away on a stretcher into an ambulance.
Dutch authorities deployed a specialised city search and rescue group to the scene, together with 4 canine educated to search out victims. The group was beforehand used throughout the devastating earthquake in Turkey in 2023.
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