Explosion and fire in Eindhoven apartment complex injure two, cause unclear
A fire that broke out Thursday evening in an apartment complex on Brahmslaan in Eindhoven left two people seriously injured and forced several residents to evacuate, Omroep Brabant reports. Police announced Friday that the blaze was not deliberately set, closing their investigation with no evidence of criminal activity.
The explosion and subsequent fire occurred around 9 p.m., causing significant damage to one apartment. Emergency responders faced delays in starting their investigation because the damaged buildings needed to be structurally supported before access was possible.
Most residents were allowed to return to their apartments around 1 a.m. Friday after waiting outside for hours. However, six apartments were declared temporarily uninhabitable, and their occupants had to find alternative shelter.
Housing corporation Woonbedrijf stated Friday that it could not yet confirm when residents of the affected units might return home.
Temporary housing was arranged for displaced residents, either through Woonbedrijf or independently. The emergency support organization Stichting Salvage provided shelter overnight Thursday at the Campanile Hotel in Eindhoven. Residents were required to leave the hotel by midday Friday.
No clear cause has been identified for the explosion and fire. Woonbedrijf confirmed it could not provide further information about the origin of the incident.
Separately, on Saturday evening, a fire at a car scrapyard on Maalbergenstraat in Wernhout destroyed around 40 vehicles. The fire released significant smoke, prompting the fire department to deploy multiple units, including a high ladder truck and extra water supplies.
