Five injured in Rotterdam garage explosion; One in critical condition
Five people were injured on Thursday afternoon in Rotterdam after an explosion occurred in a garage. Three of the victims have been taken to the hospital, with one in critical condition with severe burn wounds, Rijnmond has reported.
A report of an explosion on the Melbournestraat in Rotterdam Noord-West came in at 11 a.m. The blast was significant. While the exterior of the building seems mostly undamaged, the back corner of the garage has suffered considerable damage. Photos show objects scattered in the corner, with a fire extinguisher nearby.
The exact cause of the explosion is unknown, with Rijnmond reporting that the blast might have been caused while grinding work was being carried out. According to dehavenloods.nl, the explosion occurred when a container of transmission oil caught fire.
The Building and Housing Inspection, which will assess structural stability, and the Labor Inspectorate, which will look into the cause and circumstances, are both set to investigate the incident.
The street was closed off after the blast. Firefighters were working to stabilize the building due to potential structural instability, according to the latest report earlier in the afternoon. Firefighters raised the alarm to a medium-level fire in order to mobilize enough staff and resources. Nearby buildings were also inspected for damage and are now being ventilated.
There has been no recent update on the condition of the victims, who were all checked out by ambulance personnel after they had inhaled smoke or fumes.
