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A massive explosion and fire broke out in the central Dutch city of Utrecht on Thursday, destroying several buildings and injuring at least four people, authorities said.
“Several buildings collapsed after the explosion. Four people were injured and taken to emergency hospital,” the local emergency services department said in a statement.
It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion or whether there were any other victims.
Authorities urged local residents to stay away from the area as emergency services rushed to the scene.
“The fire department is currently investigating how to safely search the collapsed and damaged building to determine if there are still people inside,” authorities said.
“Severe damage has been reported in the surrounding area.”
Television footage showed smoke billowing into the sky above the historic city center and debris strewn across the streets.
Mayor Sharon Dyksma told public broadcaster NOS: “There may still be people under the rubble.”
“I knew right away this was a bad thing,” NOS quoted Margot Shrovers, one of the witnesses, as saying.
“The ground was shaking,” she said.
The local hospital in Utrecht has set up an emergency trauma center. The Red Cross called on volunteers to get there as soon as possible.
Additional sources of information • AFP