A powerful explosion followed by a fire occurred in central Utrecht on Thursday, injuring at least four people.
“Powerful Explosion” in Center of Utrecht
On Thursday (January 15) around 3:30 PM, services received a report of a “powerful explosion” that occurred on Visscherssteeg street in Utrecht. This is a narrow street in the center of the city located in central Holland.
Shortly after, a fire also broke out at the scene. Witnesses say they heard two strong explosions. Those standing about 200 meters away reported feeling the ground shake and seeing windows fly out of their frames.
Aerial photos show that several buildings suffered damage in the incident.
Injuries Reported
According to emergency services, at least four people have been injured in the explosion and subsequent fire.
Ongoing Rescue Operations
Numerous emergency services have been dispatched for rescue operations, but they do not have a complete picture of the situation. Many ambulances are on standby, but it is not known how many people were actually in the affected buildings.
The police are asking passersby if anyone is missing to help assess how many people may still be in the damaged buildings. Officers warn that the situation has not been brought under control and appeal to the public not to approach the scene.