At least three people dead and three injured after explosion in The Hague

At least three people were killed and three injured after an apartment building in the Dutch city of The Hague was hit by a heavy explosion on Saturday. Rescue workers are still looking for people under the rubble.

Two explosions took place at around 6.15 on Saturday morning. A large fire then broke out in five apartments of an apartment block, which was extinguished around 11.00. The cause of the explosions is still unknown.

The bodies of three people have been found and three people have been taken to hospital. Firefighters and rescue workers, with the help of search dogs, are still searching for possible victims under the rubble. It’s not clear how many people are still missing.

Meanwhile, police are looking for a suspect. Shortly after the explosion, a car “drove away at very high speed” from the site. Police are looking for people who saw this car driving or who have camera footage of it. A burnt-out car near the property is also being investigated.

^{Firefighters attend an explosion and a fire at residential building in The Hague on 7 December 2024 © PHOTO JOSH WALET / ANP / AFP}