At least 7 injured and 400 evacuated by explosion near Amsterdam residential block

A powerful explosion followed by a fire caused the partial collapse of a building connected to an apartment block in Amsterdam early Friday, injuring at least seven people, one seriously. The blast, which occurred in the Nieuw-West district, also forced the evacuation of around 400 residents from the adjacent residential building.

The explosion happened in a property housing a 24-hour gym that was attached to a nine-story apartment complex. Firefighters battled for several hours to control the blaze that erupted after the detonation. The extent of the damage has raised concerns, with authorities warning that the number of victims could rise as it is still unclear how many people were inside the building when the explosion occurred.

Emergency services launched a large search and rescue operation overnight. A drone surveyed the affected area before specialized teams and sniffer dogs could enter, as smoke continued to emanate from the debris and the risk of further collapse remained. The Amsterdam municipality stated that they are considering all possible scenarios for the cause of the explosion and have expanded the security perimeter accordingly.

Most of the evacuated residents have found temporary accommodation with family or friends. The municipality has pledged to provide hotel lodging for those unable to return to their homes while emergency operations continue. The Explosives Demolition Service (EOD) was also deployed to the scene.

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Given that the cause of the explosion remains unknown and we are contemplating all possible scenarios, we have expanded the security perimeter.