At least five apartments were destroyed but authorities were unable to say whether or how many people may have been trapped under the rubble, the city's mayor, Jan van Zanen, told a conference. press.
Authorities confirmed that four bodies had been pulled from the rubble, as fears grew of an even higher death toll.
An AFP journalist on site noted the presence of dozens of fire trucks who battled the fire from the ground and higher positions. Police helicopters flew overhead.
Firefighters battled the blaze from the ground and aerial platforms, while ambulances transported the injured to hospital and police helicopters flew overhead.
Debris was scattered across the street and several windows were blown out. Huge columns of smoke rose into the sky, spreading a pungent odor into the air.
“It is not known how many people are still under the rubble, but the reality is that they have only a slim chance of survival”declared the mayor.
call for witnesses
“It’s incredible what happened there,” said Mr. van Zanen, who quickly went there.
Several hours after the explosion, however, one person was extracted from the rubble and transported to hospital, firefighters announced.
“One person was just pulled out alive from the debris and taken to hospital,” they said in a press release.
The cause of the explosion is not yet known, but police have launched an appeal for witnesses regarding a car seen hastily leaving the scene shortly after the explosion earlier in the day.
Judicial police investigators were dispatched to the scene.
According to the mayor, there were two explosions, one small and one large, then a huge fire.
Three injured people, including a child, were evacuated by ambulance, the mayor said.
Residents of the building told local media that the building was mainly inhabited by elderly people and families with children.
“I was asleep and suddenly there was this loud noise,” Adam Muller, 14, who lives in the neighborhood, told AFP.
“I looked out the window and I just saw flames. It's a huge shock.”
“Like an earthquake”
Authorities warned residents to close their windows and turn off ventilation systems because of the smoke.
The building was occupied by stores on the ground floor and five apartments on two floors, authorities said.
“It was like an earthquake,” said a 53-year-old man who gave his name as Dimi, declining to give his last name.
“Something collapsed, but we didn't see where it came from. I know these neighbors. My children go to school with them,” he added.
The first images from public broadcaster NOS showed several dozen firefighters battling a large fire and breaking down doors to gain access to the building.
Hospitals in the region were put on alert to treat the victims.
Prime Minister Dick Schoof said he was “shocked by the terrible images of a collapsed apartment building in The Hague”, on X.
“My thoughts are with the victims, everyone else involved and the emergency services currently working at the scene,” he continued, promising all help needed.
The King of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander, reacted on social networks: “We express our sympathy towards those directly affected or worried about their loved ones.”
About 40 residents of other buildings near the collapsed building were evacuated.
