Two hospitalized after apartment fire in Rotterdam
A large fire broke out overnight in an apartment complex in the Ommoord district of Rotterdam, injuring two people and forcing the evacuation of multiple floors, NOS reports. The fire, which began in a unit on the fourth floor, was brought under control around 6 a.m. Sunday morning.
Flames were seen shooting from one of the apartments on the fourth floor of the building, located on Kelloggplaats. The fire prompted a major emergency response due to heavy smoke. Residents in nightclothes were evacuated by emergency personnel and gathered on the ground floor of the complex, where they received assistance.
The Rotterdam-Rijnmond Safety Region confirmed that ambulance workers treated several people at the scene for smoke inhalation. Two individuals were taken to the hospital. The extent of their injuries has not been disclosed.
The apartment building houses about 300 units, including some reserved for residents who require limited assistance but are still able to live independently. The fire department evacuated residents from the fourth through the eighth floors. The exact number of people evacuated has not been confirmed. Those displaced were sheltered in the building’s recreation room.
After conducting air quality measurements, including tests for carbon monoxide, the fire department has allowed most residents to return to their homes. However, several apartments remain uninhabitable due to fire damage.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Authorities advised residents in the area to avoid smoke exposure and to keep windows and doors closed during the incident.
