Fire in Eindhoven asylum shelter leaves two injured, suspect arrested
Two people were hospitalized for smoke inhalation after a fire broke out Monday night at an asylum seekers’ shelter on Anthony Fokkerweg in Eindhoven. Police have arrested a suspect on charges of arson, as reported by Omroep Brabant.
The facility, a former Novotel, was immediately evacuated, with approximately 170 residents displaced as a precaution, according to a spokesperson for the Veiligheidsregio. The fire started shortly before 3 a.m. on the third floor of the building.
“The fire was contained to a single room,” said the Veiligheidsregio spokesperson. “It has since been extinguished, and efforts are underway to clear the building of smoke.”
Emergency services responded in large numbers to the incident. Ambulance personnel treated several residents on-site for possible smoke inhalation. Two individuals required hospital treatment. The evacuation was conducted swiftly, ensuring all residents were safely removed from the premises.
Authorities have not disclosed the identity of the arrested suspect. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The asylum shelter will undergo an inspection before residents are allowed to return.
