A devastating explosion tore through the heart of Utrecht on Thursday, triggering building collapses and sending plumes of smoke billowing above the historic Dutch city center as emergency responders scrambled to determine the full extent of casualties, according to Euro News.
At least four people sustained injuries in the blast, which reduced several structures to rubble and inflicted widespread damage across surrounding neighborhoods, according to local emergency services. The wounded were transported to area hospitals as authorities launched urgent search operations amid fears that additional victims remained trapped beneath the debris.
“The fire department is currently investigating how the collapsed and damaged buildings can be safely searched to determine if anyone is still inside,” officials said in a statement, cautioning that the casualty count remained preliminary.
The cause of the explosion remained undetermined as investigators converged on the scene. Television footage captured the dramatic aftermath: thick smoke rising against Utrecht’s centuries-old skyline, streets littered with debris, and damaged facades exposing the interiors of shattered buildings.
Mayor Sharon Dijksma acknowledged the grim possibility facing rescue teams. “It’s also possible that there are still people under the rubble,” she told the public broadcaster NOS, her words underscoring the urgency of ongoing search efforts.
Witnesses described the terrifying moment of impact. “I knew right away that this was bad,” resident Margot Schroevers recounted. “The ground was shaking.”
Authorities issued urgent appeals for residents to evacuate the vicinity, warning that structural instability posed ongoing hazards as firefighters battled flames and conducted systematic searches through collapsed structures. The scale of destruction prompted officials to establish security perimeters while emergency personnel assessed which buildings might yield survivors.
Utrecht’s local hospital activated an emergency trauma center to handle incoming casualties, while the Red Cross issued calls for volunteer responders to report immediately.
The blast struck one of the Netherlands’ most culturally significant cities, home to medieval architecture and a population of over 350,000. As darkness fell, emergency lighting illuminated rescue operations that authorities warned could extend through the night.
