Monday, December 23
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Apartments destroyed and several hurt after explosion in The Hague | World News


An explosion has destroyed several apartments and injured multiple people in the Netherlands.

Residents of Mariahoeve neighbourhood in The Hague said they heard a huge bang and screams before dawn.

One woman told local media she thought there had been an earthquake.

Part of one apartment complex collapsed and a fire broke out.

Four people were rescued from the rubble and taken to hospital, officials said, adding others could still be trapped.

A firefighter at the scene in The Hague. Pic: AP
Firefighters at the scene in The Hague. Pic: AP
Image:
Pics: AP

One person told broadcaster NOS they heard a child calling for help as the building burned.

Images of the scene posted on social media platform X from a higher building nearby showed one area, encompassing five apartments, had been reduced to ashes and rubble.

Pic: AP
Pic: AP
Image:
Pics: AP

Several ambulances could be seen waiting nearby in anticipation of more victims.

A spokesperson for the local hospital said they were on standby to deal with injuries.

Dutch authorities have deployed a specialised urban search and rescue team to the scene, along with four dogs trained to find victims.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said he was shocked by images of the disaster and had offered assistance to local authorities.

The cause of the explosion was unclear.

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