Explosions tore through a residential building in The Hague early Saturday, killing at least five people and injuring four others, as authorities search for additional victims amid the rubble of the three-story structure.
The blasts occurred around 6:15 a.m. local time in the Tarwekamp neighborhood, The Hague, destroying several homes and prompting a massive emergency response. Mayor Jan van Zanen warned that hopes of finding survivors were diminishing and urged the community to “prepare for a worst case scenario.”
Dutch police reported a vehicle fleeing “at very high speed” shortly after the explosions, though the cause remains under investigation. Rescue teams with sniffer dogs are searching the debris, while some areas remain too hazardous to access.
“I was asleep and suddenly there was this huge bang,” said 14-year-old Adam Muller. “I looked out of the window and just saw flames. It’s a massive shock.”
Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima expressed sympathy for those affected, while National Police Commissioner Janny Knol acknowledged the “disbelief and uncertainty” gripping the community.
Emergency crews have brought in heavy equipment and lighting to assist with the ongoing search and recovery operation. While earlier reports suggested up to 20 people might have been in the building, officials declined to specify how many residents remain unaccounted for.
