An explosion has occurred at a three-story apartment building in The Hague, according to police reports.
Firefighters quickly arrived at the location to extinguish a fire that led to the collapse of several residences in the Tarwekamp neighborhood around 06:15 (05:15 GMT).
Rescue teams are searching for as many as 20 individuals believed to have been present during the explosion. So far, four people have been rescued from the debris.
The cause of the explosion remains unknown; however, Dutch police reported that a vehicle sped away from the scene shortly afterward and are seeking witnesses.
Reports from Dutch media indicate that five apartments were destroyed in the incident.
Rescue teams, accompanied by sniffer dogs, have been deployed to search through the wreckage, although some areas of the site are still deemed too hazardous to enter.
Fourteen-year-old Adam Muller recounted to the AFP news agency that the explosion “felt like an earthquake.”
“I was asleep when I suddenly heard a loud bang,” he stated. “I looked out the window and saw flames. It’s incredibly shocking,” he added.
Janny Knol, the national police commissioner in the Netherlands, expressed that there is a sense of “disbelief and uncertainty” within the community.
In a statement, Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima expressed their condolences to those affected and those concerned for their loved ones.
Police are anticipated to provide further information at 15:00 local time (14:00 GMT).
