By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS (Worthy News) – At least five people died, and four others were injured in explosions rocking a block of flats in the Dutch city of The Hague, and local authorities did not rule out a deliberate attack.
Firefighters and special rescue teams with dogs rushed to the burning three-story building in the Tarwekamp area following the blasts that caused the collapse of several homes.
Amid a frantic search for survivors, Dutch police said a car drove away “at very high speed” shortly after the explosions and appealed for witnesses.
The Hague’s Mayor, Jan van Zanen, said the number of people still missing is unknown.
Van Zanen, who visited the scene, said the chance of survivors being pulled from the rubble was slim and urged residents to prepare for a “worst-case scenario.”
It was thought up to 20 people may have been in the flats at the time of the blast, but the mayor refused to confirm those figures.
Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima expressed their sorrow in a statement: “We sympathize with all those who have been personally affected or who fear for the fate of their loved ones.”
PULLING BODIES
The Dutch fire service said five bodies had been pulled from the rubble. Four others were hospitalized – one of whom had since died, it said.
It added that another person was treated by the ambulance service before being taken to a shelter, bringing the total number of victims to 10.
Witnesses said at least five flats were destroyed in the explosion.
Survivors appeared in shock at what they saw. Fourteen-year-old Adam Muller said the explosion “felt like an earthquake.”
“I was asleep, and suddenly, there were these huge bangs. I looked out of the window and just saw flames. It’s a massive shock,” he added.
The national police commissioner in the Netherlands, Janny Knol, shared those sentiments: “There is disbelief and uncertainty in the community.”
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
More Worthy News
Lenny Kuhr, the Dutch Jewish singer-songwriter who was among the winners of the world’s largest televised song contest and influenced generations with heartfelt chansons, is leaving her native Netherlands, citing rising antisemitism.
China has freed the last two church leaders detained for nearly four years following a controversial police raid on a Christian gathering, amid ongoing concerns over religious persecution.
U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Jewish Americans — and citizens of all backgrounds — to observe a national Shabbat from sundown on May 15 through nightfall on May 16 as part of Jewish American Heritage Month and the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
Israel carried out a major airstrike in Beirut on Wednesday night, killing a senior commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force in the first strike on the Lebanese capital since before the ceasefire took effect last month.
New high-resolution satellite images from Airbus taken on April 8, 2026, reveal that Iran has significantly expanded defensive measures around the underground tunnel complex at the Esfahan Nuclear Complex, a site believed to house much of the regime’s highly enriched uranium stockpile.
Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that a federal anti-fraud task force launched by President Donald Trump has uncovered widespread abuse within the nation’s food assistance system, including nearly 186,000 deceased individuals allegedly still receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
A new report from NBC Newsclaims that President Donald Trump was forced to pause the U.S. military’s “Project Freedom” operation in the Strait of Hormuz after pressure from Saudi Arabia and Gulf allies threatened critical American military access in the region.