Some 30,000 chickens have been killed in a fire at a poultry farm in Putten, Omroep Gelderland has reported.

As yet it is unclear what caused the fire, which generated so much smoke people living nearby were advised to close their windows and doors. The fire was brought under control in less than an hour, but all chickens in the barn were killed.

Farm fires are still common in the Netherlands. According to figures collated by animal welfare group Wakker Dier, there have now been nine this year, killing over 130,000 animals.

In 2018, the government said it would not force farmers to take further measures to prevent fires breaking out because of the cost of the investment. The current measures do not include compulsory lightning conductors and sprinkler systems.