No victims found in rubble of Utrecht explosion; Residents can't go home yet

Emergency services and sniffer dogs searched all night for victims of the explosion and fire in Utrecht's city center. No living or deceased victims were found, a spokesperson for the local security office said. The chance that people are still inside the buildings is small, the spokesperson said. No one has been reported missing. Residents who were forced to leave their homes due to the explosion and fire in Utrecht’s city center were unable to go home on Thursday night.

Heavy equipment arrived overnight to remove debris from the collapsed buildings and search for any victims beneath the rubble. The buildings are unstable, and emergency workers have to search very carefully for their own safety, Veiligheidsregio Utrecht said. The local safety office expects to have a better idea after sunrise on Friday of how long the search will take. The consequences for residents and nearby businesses can then be better assessed.

The explosion happened at around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday on Visschersteeg in the heart of Utrecht city. Four people sustained minor injuries. According to Utrecht mayor Sharon Dijksma, locals must have had “an angel on their shoulders.” Several buildings collapsed in the explosion. The damage is enormous.

There was a gas leak near Visscherssteeg in Utrecht on Thursday afternoon, but it is not yet clear whether the gas leak caused the explosion or the explosion caused the leak, Dijksma said in a brief explanation of the events in the city center. The police are investigating the cause of the blast. Police Chief Johan van Hartskamp said there were no indications of foul play.

Many evacuated residents were accommodated at Hotel Karel V. Some chose to spend the night with friends or family. The parking garage on Springweg will remain closed for the time being. There is currently no alternative route available to allow locals to safely remove their vehicles from the garage.

Mayor Sharon Dijksma also said that she understands that affected residents are very concerned about their pets. The municipality is trying to determine where animals may still be stuck, speaking to locals at Hotel Karel V.

“I completely understand that you’re very concerned about this,” the mayor said. She said that the municipality is trying to respond to residents’ requests to pick up pets as quickly as possible. “My position is: we will facilitate everything that can be done safely, but it must be safe.” Two animal ambulances are stationed near the hotel to treat rescued pets.