Building collapses due to massive explosion in Utrecht; victims feared trapped

Massive explosions have caused buildings to collapse and be on fire in the Dutch city of Utrecht, leaving four people injured and others feared buried under debris.

At least four people have been injured and there are fears that others may be trapped under debris after a massive explosion that collapsed several buildings.

Emergency services rushed to the scene after reports of a series of explosions in the centre of the Dutch city of Utrecht that caused a fire at around 3 p.m. today. People ran to nearby shopping streets for safety, while firefighters attempted to tackle the flames in Vischersteeg.

Footage showed massive flames rising from buildings on the street amid the explosions, while a giant plume of smoke covered the city centre and debris was scattered across the streets.

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Structural damage to the buildings meant they became unstable as cracks emerged following the explosions and meant firefighters were not able to enter, and fires were being extinguished from outside with drones used to assist. Fire crews are expected to have the fire under control overnight.

A special emergency response team from Alphen aan den Rijn has been deployed to help investigate any further victims in the partially collapsed buildings.

Emergency services spokesman Sajak Hasnoot said four injured people were taken to waiting ambulances and that more people may be buried under the debris. The severity of the four reported injuries remains unknown.

Firefighters are unable to enter buildings (Image: ANP/AFP via Getty Images). )

“At the moment it is very difficult to say how many victims are under the debris,” Hasnoot said. “The fire department cannot enter the building because it is still unstable.”

Officials have asked people to stay away from the area. “The fire department is currently investigating how to safely search the collapsed and damaged buildings to determine if anyone is still inside,” a statement from emergency services said. “Extensive damage has been reported in the surrounding area.”

“I knew immediately it was bad,” Margot Schrövers, an eyewitness who felt the explosions, told NOS. “The ground was shaking.”

Explosions could be heard before the fire broke out (Image: ANP/AFP via Getty Images). )

The Utrecht security region said there was heavy smoke in the area, causing “limited visibility”, hampering emergency services. It added, “The fire department is responding where safe and focusing on searching for and investigating people in the affected buildings.”

Each section of the building is being evaluated separately to determine whether emergency responders can safely enter the affected area if the gas is shut off. Utrecht Mayor Sharon Dijksma told reporters that police were investigating the incident, adding that the cause of the explosion was not yet known.