Explosion and fire destroys 2 apartments at Heerhugowaard complex; 5 hurt, 2 arrested
Updated at 8:44 - the police confirmed that they arrested four underage suspects. Previously, media reported that at least two people were arrested
A fire raged at an apartment complex in Heerhugowaard after a possible explosion blew the facade off the building on Umbriellaan on Thursday evening. Five people sustained minor injuries. The police arrested four minors at the scene. The authorities believe that everyone who was inside the building is accounted for. Two homes were destroyed.
Emergency services responded to the building at around 8:00 p.m. The local authorities and mayor said that there was “presumably” an explosion in one of the homes, which caused the fire. The alarm was quickly escalated to a “very large fire.”
Photos from the scene show that the facade of the building was blown away. The two destroyed apartments were propped up. A crane removed debris to make space for the support pillars.
The emergency services searched the apartments and believe that there are no victims beyond the five who sustained minor injuries. “We don’t think anyone more will be found. There will be a final check in daylight to be sure,” a spokesperson for the local security region told ANP last night.
Police officers arrested four underage suspects at the scene, the police said on Friday morning. NH Nieuws reporters saw the police take two of them away in handcuffs. It is not clear whether they are residents of the building. The police have not said what they are suspected of.
Residents of the apartment complex were evacuated and taken in at the town hall. They won’t be able to return to their homes until Saturday at the earliest, according to NOS. The municipality will organize hotel rooms for those who can’t find accommodation with friends or family.
