Four bodies have been recovered from the rubble of an apartment building in The Hague, the Netherlands, after a major explosion caused a partial collapse on Saturday morning, Dutch police have confirmed.
The identities of the victims have yet to be determined. Earlier in the evening, a survivor was rescued from the debris and transported to a hospital for treatment. Rescue teams are continuing their efforts to locate additional victims who may be trapped beneath the rubble.
During a press conference on Saturday afternoon, The Hague’s mayor, Jan van Zanen, announced that three injured individuals had already been hospitalized earlier in the day.
“The reality is that their chances of survival are very slim. We are preparing for the worst-case scenario,” the mayor stated.
He also confirmed that there are currently no indications of suspicious activity in the area, although this remains a focus of the ongoing investigation.
Emergency services reported uncertainty about how many people remain buried under the debris, with concerns that the number of victims could rise to around 20.
“Shocked by the terrible images of a collapsed apartment building in The Hague,” Prime Minister Dick Schoof wrote on the social platform X.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima also expressed their sympathy on X, stating, “We sympathize with all those who have been personally affected or who fear for the fate of their loved ones.”
The incident occurred on Tarwekamp Street in the northeastern Mariahoeve district of The Hague. Images from the scene show that the facades of several apartments have been destroyed. The building houses shops on the ground floor and two residential floors above. The cause of the explosion remains unclear.
Police reported that a car was seen speeding away from the scene shortly after the explosion. Authorities are appealing for witnesses who may have observed the vehicle to come forward.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
