An explosion in The Hague, Netherlands, on Saturday morning has shaken the community after it resulted in the deaths of at least six people and significant destruction of an apartment building. The incident, described as an “unprecedented disaster” by the city's mayor Jan van Zanen, occurred at approximately 6:15 a.m., engulfing a three-story apartment block in flames and leading to its partial collapse.
Local authorities confirmed that, in addition to the fatalities, four individuals were hospitalized with injuries, while one person received on-site treatment. Rescue operations continued until early Monday, when workers recovered the sixth body from the debris.
In a statement released Tuesday, The Hague police announced the arrest of three individuals in connection to the explosion. These suspects are currently prohibited from contacting anyone outside of their legal representation, as investigations remain ongoing, and authorities cautioned that additional arrests may occur.
The explosion severely impacted 19 apartment duplexes, with five rendered completely uninhabitable.While officials are still investigating the precise cause of the explosion, they have seized several vehicles linked to the scene. There are fears that the incident could relate to a rise in violence connected to organized crime, as smaller explosions associated with drug trafficking have become increasingly common in Dutch cities.
The Dutch king, Willem-Alexander, expressed his shock upon visiting the explosion site, characterizing the event as “beyond imagination.” In light of this incident, local officials and residents are left to grapple with the tragic consequences and the ongoing threat of similar occurrences in urban areas across the Netherlands.
