At least four individuals have sustained injuries and concerns are raised about potential entrapment in the debris following a significant explosion that tore through multiple buildings, resulting in their collapse.
Emergency responders swiftly arrived at the scene in the heart of Utrecht, a city in the Netherlands, as reports indicated a series of explosions leading to a fire outbreak around 3 pm. Crowds sought refuge in nearby shopping areas while fire brigades endeavored to suppress the flames in Visscherssteeg.
Videos captured immense flames engulfing structures amidst detonations, with a thick plume of smoke enveloping the city center and debris strewn across the vicinity.
Due to structural impairments post-explosions, the buildings became precarious, exhibiting cracks, thereby hindering firefighters from entering. Drones were employed to assist in extinguishing the blaze from the exterior. Authorities anticipate that firefighting operations will persist throughout the night.
A specialized emergency team from Alphen aan den Rijn has been dispatched to aid in searching for potential victims within the partially collapsed edifices.
Sjaak Haasnoot, a spokesperson for emergency services, reported that four injured individuals were transported to awaiting ambulances, emphasizing the possibility of additional casualties buried beneath the rubble. The severity of the injuries sustained by the known four victims remains undisclosed.
Haasnoot stated, “It is currently challenging to ascertain the number of individuals trapped under the debris. The unstable nature of the building prevents the fire department from conducting interior searches.”
Authorities advised the public to steer clear of the area. A statement from emergency services highlighted ongoing investigations to safely explore the collapsed and damaged structures to ascertain the presence of any trapped individuals, noting extensive damage in the vicinity.
Eyewitness Margot Schroevers recalled feeling the tremors from the explosions, expressing immediate awareness of the severity of the situation.
The Utrecht Safety Region raised concerns over reduced visibility caused by heavy smoke impeding emergency response efforts, focusing on systematic searches within the affected buildings.
Assessments are being conducted on each section of the buildings to determine the feasibility of emergency personnel entering, with gas supplies shut off in the impacted zones. Police are probing the incident, as Utrecht Mayor Sharon Dijksma informed the press, with the explosion’s cause yet to be determined.