Fire raging in empty Nijmegen supermarket; residents advised to stay out of the smoke

A large fire broke out in an empty supermarket in the Nijmegen shopping center Weezenhof during the early hours of Tuesday morning. A lot of smoke is being released. The fire department advises local residents to stay out of the smoke and keep windows, doors and ventilation closed. People are also instructed to stay away from the area as there may be a gas leak, the Telegraaf reports.

The fire spread to at least five other stores in the shopping center, according to NOS. According to the Telegraaf, these include a butchery and and a dry cleaner. Firefighters are working hard to keep the fire from spreading to a Lidl supermarket in the building.

Grid manager Liander is on the way to the scene to check out a possible gas leak. "It could be gas cylinders in the butchery or a regular gas leak. We heard a deflating sound", the fire department said, according to the Telegraaf. According to the fire department, about 10 stores are involved in the fire. "They are not all on fire, but are at risk."

The fire started in a Spar supermarket in the shopping center. It closed its doors in January because of poor prospects, according to the Gelderlander. The cause of the fire is unclear.