Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Explosion wipes out the top floor of a retirement home in Veendam, 19 Apr 2017
Explosion wipes out the top floor of a retirement home in Veendam, 19 Apr 2017 - Credit: Photo: @Gedeekens / Twitter
Veendam
explosion
apartment building
retirement home
fatal explosion
Julianalaan
Prins Bernhardlaan
Veendam explosion
firefighters
Veiligheidsregio Groningen
fire department
collapse
emergency services
Wednesday, 19 April 2017 - 09:48
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Apartment building explosion kills 1, hurts 2 in Groningen town

One person was killed and two others sustained minor injuries in an explosion that wiped out an entire floor of a retirement apartment building in Veendam on Wednesday morning, local safety office Veiligheidsregio Groningen said on Twitter. 

A spokesperson for the safety office told NU.nl that the police are working on identifying the victim. The two injured people received treatment at the scene and did not have to go to the hospital.

The retirement home is located on the corner of Julianalaan and Prins Bernhardlaan. Engineers and construction experts checked the four story building and propped it up to try and prevent a collapse. The top floor of the building is completely destroyed and the rest of the building is severely damaged. Rubble was thrown to the other side of the street in the explosion.

The fire brigade is at the scene with specialized equipment. The Groningen brigade is getting assistance from expert firefighting teams in other provinces on how to proceed safely.

The residents the apartment building were evacuated. About 20 people are being sheltered in the Sorghvliethal in Veendam. So far nothing can be said about the cause of the explosion. The gas supply to the building was shut down as a precaution. 

Dode en gewonden door explosie Veendam: https://t.co/Yu9HGDbL0R pic.twitter.com/FLiDMIkdrf

— SBS6 (@SBS6) April 19, 2017

Een complete ravage bij de explosie in Veendam. #rtvnoord pic.twitter.com/9voCt8MDhK

— Robert Pastoor (@RobertPastoor) April 19, 2017

https://twitter.com/DianaHollander/status/854593690081394688

Explosie #knal #Veendam - balken liggen tientallen meters ver. pic.twitter.com/meROwBLY9T

— Marcel-Lameijer.nl (@MarcelLameijer) April 19, 2017

https://twitter.com/peter_brouwer/status/854569527320903680

Zeer grote ontploffing in seniorencomplex in Veendam (Groningen) hulpdiensten rukken op dit moment met groot materiaal uit. pic.twitter.com/gB8DioNWGd

— Dennie Gaasendam / DG-Fotografie (@DennieGaasendam) April 19, 2017

Enorme explosie verwoest flats in Veendam. Vlak bij ons om de hoek. Ik stond te trillen in de badkamer. pic.twitter.com/oFbwgEbCWv

— Gernant Deekens (@Gedeekens) April 19, 2017

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Manchester United agree to pay up to €17 million for Feyenoord defender Malacia
  • Council of State reinstates jihadist's Dutch nationality in her children's interest
  • Woman raped in broad daylight on Leiden street; Suspect in custody
  • Parliament experts get safety training amid violent protests; Debate set for Thursday
  • Many healthcare workers never got their Covid booster shots
  • Dutch gov't won't apologize for slavery on commemoration day: report

Top stories

  • Dutch Caribbean braces for tropical storm Bonnie with curfew, closed schools
  • Farmers protests increasingly radical, police say; Coalition party demands debate
  • Angry farmers break through police barricade at Minister's house
  • Necklace worth €27 million snatched in Tefaf Maastricht art fair robbery: Report
  • Covid hospital patient total jumps 17 percent; New infections rise by 29 percent
  • Small plane crashes in Flevoland lake; Rescuers working to save victims

© 2012-2022, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content