Up to 20 trapped in rubble after Hague apartment building fire, explosion

Emergency services are responding to a devastating explosion early Saturday morning that partially destroyed a three-story apartment building on Tarwekamp in The Hague, the Netherlands, Report informs via NL Times.

A specialized Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team has been deployed to the site, consisting of four canine handlers and a structural engineer. This unit is trained to locate and extricate individuals trapped under collapsed buildings. Up to 20 people could be trapped underneath the rubble, according to a spokesperson from the regional safety authority.

The incident occurred around 6:15 a.m. (GMT+ 1) in the Mariahoeve neighborhood. A powerful blast, followed by a large fire, caused multiple apartments to collapse, leaving a “gaping hole” in the structure, witnesses said. The fire quickly spread, engulfing parts of the building in thick black smoke, which continues to billow over the area hours after the explosion.