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
A Christian family’s home was reportedly set on fire following a local dispute in eastern Pakistan, highlighting ongoing concerns about the safety of minority communities in the Muslim-majority nation.
Two church leaders are recovering after they were reportedly nearly killed by Hindus while evangelizing in southwest India’s Karnataka state, underscoring growing hostility toward Christians in the world’s largest Hindu nation.
In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, Israel and Lebanon held their first direct negotiations in more than three decades on Tuesday, raising cautious optimism that a pathway toward peace—and potentially normalization—may be emerging in the Middle East.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has downgraded its global growth outlook, warning that the ongoing Iran conflict could push the world economy toward recession if energy disruptions intensify and inflation pressures worsen.
The U.S. may return to the negotiating table with Iran soon, as thousands of American service members assist in the blockade of Iranian ports.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed Tuesday that federal prosecutors allegedly withheld key evidence while pursuing cases against pro-life activists who protested at abortion clinics.
The U.S. naval blockade of Iranian shipping showed early signs of effectiveness in its first 24 hours, according to U.S. Central Command, as no vessels departing Iranian ports successfully passed through the restricted zone.