Utrecht: Explosions cause major fire, several injured

Utrecht – Several explosions shook the center of Utrecht in the afternoon, and shortly afterwards a building burst into flames. Parts of the city center are being evacuated and smoke can be seen over the city. At least four people are said to have been injured.

At around 3:30 p.m. the police and fire brigade in Utrecht (Netherlands) numerous emergency calls. Eyewitnesses report explosions, a short time later there is one Major fire confirmed in a house on Visscherssteeg. Numerous emergency services arrive within a very short space of time. Two rescue helicopters are also circling over the city center, according to the Dutch newspaper AD reported.

At least four people in hospital

According to rescue service spokesman Sjaak Haasnoot, there are four injured were taken into waiting ambulances. It was initially unclear whether there were other victims. “The fire department cannot enter the building because it is still unstable,” said Haasnoot in the afternoon. The UMC Utrecht has opened its disaster hospital and the Red Cross has sent volunteers to Utrecht as a precaution.

“It is possible that there are still people buried under the rubble,” Utrecht Mayor Sharon Dijksma told NOS television. The explosion hit “the heart of our city” hard. Passer-by Margot Schroevers told the station that the ground was “shaking”. It was immediately clear to her that something bad had happened.

The cause of the major fire is still unclear

Restaurants had to close immediately, particularly around the centrally located Mariaplaats in the city of 380,000 residents. The police closed off a large area of ​​surrounding streets.

According to eyewitnesses, window panes were torn out by the force of the explosions. Eyewitness videos show rubble lying in front of several homes and businesses. A fire brigade spokesman spoke to the ANP news agency of a “gigantic Explosion“The authorities say that “extensive damage” has been reported in the area.

The exact cause of the accident was unclear until the evening. It is being investigated whether a gas leak could have caused the explosions, writes “De Telegraaf”. It is assumed that there was an accident. Fortunately, the residents of the collapsed buildings were not at home at the time of the explosion.