Five dead, more feared missing after The Hague flat explosions
At least five people have been confirmed dead and four others injured following explosions that rocked a block of flats in The Hague, Netherlands, according to authorities.
Firefighters responded quickly to the three-story building after the blasts, which caused the collapse of several apartments in the Tarwekamp area around 06:15 (05:15 GMT) on Saturday.
The mayor of The Hague, Jan van Zanen, stated that the number of people still missing remains unknown.
While the cause of the explosions is yet to be determined, Dutch police reported that a car sped away from the scene shortly afterward and are seeking witnesses.
Mayor van Zanen suggested that the chances of finding survivors in the rubble were low and urged the community to prepare for the “worst-case scenario.”
Initially, it was believed that up to 20 people could have been inside the building when the explosion occurred, but the mayor declined to speculate on this number.
The Dutch fire service said five people are confirmed dead.
Dutch media reported five flats were destroyed in the explosion.
Rescue teams with sniffer dogs have been deployed to sift through the debris, but parts of the site remain too dangerous to access.
A large excavator has been brought in to remove debris and lighting erected at the site.
Fourteen-year-old Adam Muller told the AFP news agency the explosion “felt like an earthquake”.
“I was asleep and suddenly there was this huge bang,” he said.
“I looked out of the window and just saw flames. It’s a massive shock,” he added.
National police commissioner in the Netherlands Janny Knol said there was “disbelief and uncertainty” in the community.
Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima said in a statement: “We sympathise with all those who have been personally affected or who fear for the fate of their loved ones.”
