The Hague Apartment Building Collapse: Rescue Efforts Underway
Emergency Response
Rescue workers with sniffer dogs were scrabbling through the wreckage of a three-storey apartment block in The Hague that collapsed after an explosion and inferno in the early hours of Saturday. The cause of the blast was not immediately clear, but police appealed for information about a car seen speeding away from the scene shortly after the explosion.
Damage and Casualties
At least five homes were destroyed in the incident, authorities said, but it remained unclear how many were trapped under the rubble. Emergency services took four people to hospital in the immediate aftermath of the building collapse, as elite rescue workers trained on recovering survivors from natural disasters scoured the debris.
Scene of the Incident
An AFP reporter on the scene saw dozens of fire trucks as firefighters battled the blaze from the ground and from higher positions. Police helicopters circled overhead. Debris was strewn across the street and several windows had been blown out, the AFP reporter said. Burned-out cars littered the streets. Huge plumes of smoke were billowing from a large hole where the building stood, with an acrid smell in the air.
Eyewitness Accounts
"I was asleep and suddenly there was this huge bang," Adam Muller, a 14-year-old local resident, told AFP. "I looked out of the window and just saw flames. It’s a massive shock," he added.
Investigation
Authorities warned locals to keep their windows shut and shut off ventilation systems due to the smoke. Forensic investigators arrived on the scene to begin to probe a potential cause for the accident, an AFP reporter said. "Shortly after the explosion, at around 6:15 a.m., a car drove away at very high speed," police said in a statement. "The police would like to get in touch with people who saw this car driving or who may have camera footage."
Building Structure
The three floors of the building consisted of shops on the ground floors and five two-storey apartments, authorities said, with living rooms on the second floor and bedrooms on the top.
Government Response
The city’s mayor Jan van Zanen travelled to the site to coordinate rescue efforts. He was expected to brief reporters from city hall at 3pm (1400 GMT). Prime Minister Dick Schoof wrote on X that he was "shocked by the terrible images of a collapsed apartment building in The Hague." "My thoughts go out to the victims, all other people involved and the emergency services who are now working on the scene," said Schoof. He said he had been in contact with the city authorities and promised any help necessary. Dutch King Willem-Alexander wrote on social media: "We sympathise with those personally affected or are worried about their loved-ones."
Conclusion
The collapse of the apartment building in The Hague is a devastating incident that has left many people affected. The rescue efforts are ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the cause of the blast. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families during this difficult time.
FAQs
Q: What happened to the apartment building in The Hague?
A: The building collapsed after an explosion and inferno in the early hours of Saturday.
Q: How many people were injured in the incident?
A: At least four people were taken to hospital in the immediate aftermath of the building collapse.
Q: What is the cause of the blast?
A: The cause of the blast is not immediately clear, but police are appealing for information about a car seen speeding away from the scene shortly after the explosion.
Q: How many homes were destroyed in the incident?
A: At least five homes were destroyed in the incident, authorities said.