Explosion and Fire in Amsterdam Apartment Building Injures Seven, Forces Evacuation

An explosion in an ancillary facility of an apartment building in Amsterdam-Nieuw-West caused a significant fire overnight Friday, injuring at least seven people and leading to the evacuation of around 400 residents.

According to safety authorities, the explosion occurred in a 24-hour gym located in an external building attached to the apartment complex. Witnesses at the gym reported that the blast happened within the building's interior spaces. All seven injured individuals were gym patrons.

The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. Authorities have not yet determined the exact number of people inside the building at the time of the blast, and the number of injured could still rise. Drones and rescue dogs are being used to search for any potential additional victims.

Photographs from the scene show a collapsed facade of the building and fitness equipment inside. Several cars parked on the adjacent street were also damaged. The fire was extinguished around 5 a.m. local time Friday. Residents in the vicinity were advised to keep their doors and windows closed due to the smoke released from the fire.