Four people, including one child, have been taken to hospital after a major explosion and fire at an apartment complex in The Hague, which led to the collapse of part of the building.

The blast at the property on the Tarwekamp in the Mariahoeve district of the city happened at around 6.15 am. Locals spoke of a very loud bang which shook their own buildings and was audible kilometres away. Others spoke of hearing people screaming.

The three-storey block in the shape of an L had shops on the ground floor and apartments above. The explosion took place close to the corner of the property and destroyed five apartments, officials said.

According to the Telegraaf, the emergency services fear as many as 20 people could have been inside. Locals spoke of a number of elderly people and a family with children.

“The emergency services are working flat out to bring people to safety,” The Hague’s mayor Jan van Zanen told reporters at the scene. “We are doing all we can to help people and as soon as there is more clarity about what happened, we will update you.”

Investigators have been spotted at the scene collecting evidence. As yet it is unclear if the blast was deliberate or accidental. All 20 homes in the block have been evacuated.

Officials have scheduled a press conference for 3pm.

Bij daglicht is goed te zien wat voor ravage er is ontstaan aan het #Tarwekamp in #DenHaag nadat daar vanmorgen een gigantische explosie heeft plaatsgevonden. Speciale reddingsteams zijn ter plaatse om te gaan zoeken naar slachtoffers. pic.twitter.com/UDfYUyN79c

— District8.net (@RedactieD8) December 7, 2024

Ravage vanaf de elfde verdieping. #Tarwekamp @omroepwest pic.twitter.com/2hzfJZ95y2

— Dennis van Schie (@DennisvanSchie) December 7, 2024

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