Electric car explosion in Enschede triggers evacuation of Jumbo and shopping center
A sudden explosion in an electric vehicle parked in the Irenegarage above the Jumbo supermarket on Noorderhagen led to the full evacuation of the store and the adjacent Irene Promenade shopping center Saturday evening, Tubantia reports. The blast, which originated in a charging bay, reportedly caused significant panic and released toxic smoke across parts of the city center.
The incident occurred shortly before closing time. “We came up from the store and saw only smoke—you couldn’t see your own hand,” Jumbo employee Cas, who was on shift as supervisor, told Tubantia. “A few seconds later, we heard a huge bang, and suddenly the car exploded.” Cas, together with other staff, evacuated the store in under a minute. “All customers and employees were asked to leave, and the exits were secured.”
The white electric car was parked in a designated charging area in the Irenegarage. Authorities have not confirmed whether the vehicle was actively charging at the time. “It’s still unclear what exactly caused the explosion, but we suspect the battery was the source,” said a spokesperson from the fire department. The vehicle was reportedly almost completely destroyed in the fire.
Firefighters escalated the alert level to a “large fire” due to the location in the busy city center and the involvement of an electric car, which poses additional risks. Multiple fire engines were dispatched to the scene. Though the flames were extinguished quickly, the car was burned out entirely and later removed from the garage and submerged in a dunk tank to safely cool the battery.
Outside the store, two cashiers and their supervisor stood in the cold, still wearing work uniforms. “Our jackets are still inside,” a Jumbo employee told Tubantia. “I was just scanning items when it happened. Suddenly, that bang. All the lights went out. I was shaking from the shock.”
The fire released toxic smoke that reportedly spread through Noorderhagen and Van Lochemstraat. Police cordoned off parts of the area. A concerned man rushed toward the firefighters, asking, “How many cars are burning?” He later said, “I wish I had never parked it there.” His car had been parked right next to the one that exploded. To his relief, only one vehicle is confirmed to have burned so far, though other cars may have sustained damage.
The Irene Promenade shopping center was shut down entirely for the night. Jumbo reportedly confirmed to Tubantia that the store would remain closed due to possible light smoke damage. No injuries were reported in the explosion.
