Fire broke out at the Iraqi embassy in The Hague on Monday morning and was still not under control four hours after the fire brigade were called in.

The Sorghvliet secondary school next door was evacuated because of the risk of the fire spreading. The situation is also being monitored by drone.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined but the building is currently surrounded by scaffolding because it is undergoing maintenance work.

A fire brigade spokesman told broadcaster NOS he did not know if there was a connection between the work and the blaze.

One person who was in the embassy on the Johan de Wittlaan was checked over by medical staff for smoke inhalation but there were no other injuries.