At least 400 calves have been killed at a barn fire in Noord-Brabant, but bystanders were able to rescue about 100 animals, local broadcaster Omroep Brabant said.

The cause of the fire, which was put out after some two hours, is not yet clear but one neighbour reported that welding work was being carried out in the barn shortly before the blaze.

Grote brand bij boerderij in Haps, bijna 400 kalveren komen om https://t.co/7sAAmbtB8n

— BurningSouls (@BrandendeZielen) June 28, 2018

Many of the cows which made it outside had serious burns and several fled into a nearby ditch in panic. The farm has three barns with veal calves, each with several hundred animals, the broadcaster said.

The fire is the latest in a string of fires in the Netherlands’ factory farming sector. Last July, the pro-animal PvdD introduced a motion to parliament calling for better fire safety at factory farms, but it failed to win enough support.

The three Christian parties and two Liberal parties D66 and VVD voted against the measure.