Five dead after explosions collapse flats in The Hague

# Five dead after explosions collapse flats in The Hague

At least five people have died and four others were injured after explosions ripped through a block of flats in The Hague, leaving rescuers searching for the missing amid a partially collapsed building.

BBC News reported that the blasts struck a three-storey building in the Tarwekamp area at about 06:15 local time, causing several homes to collapse. Firefighters and rescue teams moved quickly to the scene, but the mayor, Jan van Zanen, said it was still unclear how many people were missing. He warned the community to prepare for the worst because the chance of finding survivors was slim.

The cause of the explosions was not immediately clear, but police said a car drove away at very high speed shortly afterward and appealed for witnesses. That detail raised the possibility that the disaster was not accidental, though officials had not confirmed any motive or cause by the time of the report.

The destruction appears to have been severe. Dutch media reported that five flats were destroyed, and rescue teams with sniffer dogs were deployed as parts of the site remained too dangerous to enter. A large excavator was brought in to clear debris, and lighting was installed to support the recovery effort.

The toll on residents was already stark. Dutch fire service officials confirmed five deaths, while four more people were injured. Earlier estimates suggested as many as 20 people may have been in the flats, but the mayor said he would not speculate on the number. That uncertainty underscored how difficult the rescue operation remained.

Local testimony in the BBC report captured the shock in the neighborhood. A 14-year-old who lives nearby said the blast felt like an earthquake. Another witness described seeing flames and black smoke while stuck in traffic. The King and Queen of the Netherlands issued a statement expressing sympathy for those affected and those still fearing for loved ones.

The headline figure is tragic enough, but the larger story is that the emergency response was still unfolding while families waited for answers. The unknown number of missing people, the damaged building, and the reported flight of a car from the area all point to an incident that could develop further if investigators identify a cause.

For now, the confirmed facts are devastating: five people are dead, four are injured and more may still be missing after an explosion that tore through flats in The Hague.