THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An explosion and hearth rocked a local within the Dutch town of The Hague on Saturday, killing 3 other people and injuring folks and destroying a number of residences, in line with government.
The reason for the crisis used to be unclear. Mayor Jan van Zanen mentioned investigators had been having a look into “all chances.” Police mentioned they’re on the lookout for a automotive observed leaving the scene in case that is helping with the investigation.
Van Zanen mentioned 3 our bodies had been pulled from the rubble. Emergency government mentioned 4 other people had been rescued and brought to the medical institution. The mayor mentioned rescuers had been now not on the lookout for survivors however for eventual our bodies, for the reason that the ‘’slender likelihood of survival” underneath what’s left of the residences. He may now not specify what number of people would possibly nonetheless be unaccounted for.
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Citizens of the northeastern community of Mariahoeve in The Hague heard an enormous bang and screams prior to daybreak. One girl informed native media that she idea an earthquake had came about.
Dutch government deployed a specialised city seek and rescue crew to the scene, with 4 canine educated to seek out sufferers. The crew used to be prior to now used all the way through the devastating earthquake in Turkey in 2023.
Quickly after the explosion, a line of ambulances might be observed ready within sight in anticipation of extra sufferers. The spokesperson for the native medical institution mentioned that they had been on standby to care for accidents.
The mayor referred to as it “a particularly heavy day.”
“I had anticipated a distinct Saturday,” van Zanen informed a information convention.
Top Minister Dick Schoof mentioned in a commentary he used to be surprised by way of the pictures of the crisis. “My ideas cross out to the sufferers, all folks concerned and the emergency products and services who are actually running at the scene,” he mentioned.
The Dutch royal circle of relatives expressed identical sentiments. “Our ideas are with the ones affected in The Hague after the explosion and hearth this morning,” together with the ones “who’re petrified of the destiny in their family members,” King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima mentioned in a commentary.
Related Press reporters Aleksandar Furtula and Ahmad Seir contributed to this file.
