Fire destroys apartment in Winschoten; police investigating possible arson

A major fire early Saturday destroyed an apartment in Winschoten, Groningen, forcing the evacuation of an entire residential complex, according to authorities. No one was injured, RTL reported.

The blaze broke out around 2:30 a.m. in an apartment on Wilhelminasingel. Fire crews arrived to find the residence already engulfed in flames. Nearby residents, some calling for help from their balconies, were rescued as firefighters deployed two aerial ladder trucks to evacuate the building.

All residents were cleared from the complex, and the fire was brought under control shortly before 3:30 a.m. One person was checked by ambulance personnel at the scene but did not require hospital treatment, a fire service spokesperson said. Officials have not confirmed whether residents of all apartments will be able to return home.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. An RTL photographer at the scene said a resident claimed a Molotov cocktail was thrown into the apartment, but police have not confirmed this account.