An explosion in an apartment block in The Hague already leaves at least five dead and five injured

MADRID Dec. 8 () –

At least five people have died, another five have been injured and an unknown number remain missing as a result of an explosion that occurred this morning in The Hague that has destroyed five homes in an apartment block and sparked a police investigation into the possibility that the detonation could have been provoked.

The Fire Department of the area of ​​the city where the events occurred, in the Tarwekamp neighborhood, reported late Saturday that a fifth body was recovered from the rubble.

Of the five injured, four have been taken to hospital, where they are receiving medical attention, while another has been assisted by ambulance services.

According to Dutch media reports, the number of missing people is still undetermined, while the search for missing people in the rubble continues.

The city police have confirmed that they are collecting information about a vehicle “that left the scene at full speed” at the time of the explosion, around 6:15 in the morning.

It took firefighters four hours to put out the fire caused by the detonation, which practically split the apartment block in two, a three-story, “L”-shaped building in the Tarwekamp neighborhood, near the center of the city. city.

The rescue forces are operating under the premise of a “code 20”, that is, an incident that would have left more than twenty victims, who could still be buried under the rubble.

In fact, the mayor of the city, Jan van Zanen, has appeared before the population to predict “the worst possible scenario” given that the rescue services fear that there are several more bodies under the remains of the destroyed homes.

“The emergency services are working at full speed to get people to safety,” said Mayor Van Zanen, in comments reported by the RTL network. “We are doing everything we can to help people and as soon as there is more clarity about what happened, we will inform you,” he added.

Van Zanen has also issued an emergency order in the neighborhood so that “emergency personnel can work undisturbed.” The order, ‘De Telegraaf’ points out, will remain in force until Monday.