Explosion in Venlo flat; resident seriously injured

A man was seriously injured in an explosion in his third floor flat on Harry Meijerstraat in Venlo on Sunday afternoon. He was rushed to the burns center in Aken with a trauma helicopter, NU.nl reports.

The explosion caused a fire, which firefighters quickly managed to get under control. Seven people, including a number of first-responders, were checked over by paramedics because they breathed smoke. 

The apartment in which the explosion happened was declared uninhabitable. The cause of the explosion is not yet known.

Over 30 apartments were evacuated while the authorities investigated whether structural damage was done to the building. By Sunday night, the residents of all but four apartments were allowed to return to their homes. The residents of the four apartments that had not been declared safe, were offered alternative accommodation. 

Slachtoffer branf flat Venlo wordt ingeladen in traumaheli @l1 pic.twitter.com/RaDfIg7A56

— Henk Timmermans (@Henk_Tmmrmans) February 11, 2018

Brand in flatgebouw Venlo @l1 pic.twitter.com/yumdmDwLil

— Henk Timmermans (@Henk_Tmmrmans) February 11, 2018