Cries for help heard in house fire; Elderly couple feared dead

By Janene Pieters on Friday, 20 May 2016 - 07:34
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Firetruck at the scene of a large fire in a home on Gruttostraat in Hellevoetsluis. Elderly couple feared dead, 20 May 2016 (Photo: @Politie_Rdam/Twitter)Firetruck at the scene of a large fire in a home on Gruttostraat in Hellevoetsluis. Elderly couple feared dead, 20 May 2016 (Photo: @Politie_Rdam/Twitter)

A home in Hellevoetsluis burnt out completely during the early hours of Friday morning. An couple in their eighties lived in the homes. The police fear that they fell victim to the fire.

Neighbors heard calls for help coming from the home on Gruttostraat, a spokesperson for the local safety office said to newspaper AD. But the fire was so intense that firefighters could not enter the building.

The fire started around 1:30 a.m. The entire home was ablaze in a matter of minutes. Around 2:50 a.m. the fire department had the fire under control. Firefighters looked into the completely burnt out home with torches and lanterns, but reported no sign of the elderly couple. They will only enter the property in daylight, as part of the building collapsed in the fire.

The residents of four surrounding homes were evacuated. The police collected them and alarmed relatives of the couple at the police station.

The cause of the fire is unknown. The police believe arson may be involved.

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