An explosion destroys an apartment block in a Dutch city, killing at least 1 and injuring others

[TexasTowelie]

Last edited Sat Dec 7, 2024, 10:12 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: AP

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An explosion and fire rocked a neighborhood in the Dutch city of The Hague on Saturday, killing one woman and injuring other people and destroying several apartments, according to authorities.

The cause of the disaster is unclear. Mayor Jan van Zanen said investigators are looking into “all possibilities.” Police said they are looking for a car seen leaving the scene in case that helps with the investigation.

Emergency authorities said four people were rescued from the rubble and taken to the hospital. The mayor said rescuers were no longer looking for survivors but for eventual bodies, but could not specify how many people might still be unaccounted for.

Residents of the northeastern neighborhood of Mariahoeve in The Hague heard a huge bang and screams before dawn. One woman told local media that she thought an earthquake had happened.

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Original post as LBN:

An explosion has caused several injuries and damaged apartments in a Dutch city

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An explosion and fire rocked a neighborhood in the Dutch city of The Hague early Saturday, destroying several apartments and injuring multiple people, according to authorities.

The cause of the disaster is unclear, but police said they are looking for a car seen leaving the scene.

Emergency authorities said four people have been rescued from the rubble and taken to the hospital, but could not say how many people may still be under the rubble. Local media reported that one of those hospitalized was a child.

A line of ambulances could be seen waiting nearby in anticipation of more victims. The spokesperson for the local hospital said that they were on standby to deal with injuries.


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/netherlands-hague-explosion-54f06b68677dcfda4ee7af75deed4947

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[“Our thoughts are with those affected in The Hague after the explosion and fire this morning,’' including those “who are afraid of the fate of their loved ones,” King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima said in a statement.

[LymphocyteLover]

1. Terrorism? Related to the war crimes tribunal there?

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. It would be strange to attack an apartment block in either case

It'd be more likely to be targeting someone who lived there.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

3. video

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

4. more

[FemDemERA]

5. My heart goes out to the families.

Saturday morning before dawn…. I pray there are not more dead.

[electric_blue68]

6. Woah, Strength to all affected! :(

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. 4 found dead so far

One found alive in Hague explosion rubble; Fourth dead body recovered
Emergency workers rescued someone who was still alive from the rubble of an apartment building collapse on Tarwekamp in The Hague. The announcement by the regional fire service was followed minutes later by confirmation that a fourth dead body was also recovered.

The wounded individual was placed on a stretcher and taken to an ambulance nearly 12 hours after a series of explosions and a fire leveled five of the 40 apartments. It was the first living person rescued from the disaster site since three wounded adults were brought to hospitals soon after the 6:15 a.m. incident.

Emergency workers also rescued one child from the rubble during the initial response. However, the child’s sibling is still unaccounted for, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the incident.

At a press conference in the middle of the afternoon, Mayor Jan van Zanen said it was highly unlikely anybody else would be found alive. He said the rescue effort was becoming a recovery operation.

https://nltimes.nl/2024/12/07/one-found-alive-hague-explosion-rubble-fourth-dead-body-recovered

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. Police arrest three after The Hague flat explosions

Authorities in the Netherlands have arrested three suspects in connection with devastating explosions that rocked an apartment block in The Hague, killing six people and leaving a community in shock.
...
Police are exploring "all avenues" that could have led to the incident, with the arrests suggesting a potential criminal motive.

The suspects are being held in restrictive custody, only allowed contact with their lawyers, and are expected to appear in court later this week.

"Further arrests cannot be ruled out," officials announced.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpdnezyjezgo

"Criminal motive" presumably meaning "not terrorism" (eg gang-related), since it would still be a "crime" whatever the motive.