Fire forces evacuation of Middelburg nursing home residents

A fire broke out in a nursing home on the Herengracht in Middelburg in the early hours of Sunday, authorities said. The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m., filling the building with smoke.

The building was evacuated, a spokesperson for Veiligheidsregio Zeeland said an hour later. Initially, all 18 residents were expected to be temporarily relocated to a care center behind the nursing home, but four were ultimately able to stay in their apartments.

The fire started in the basement when a dryer caught fire. Authorities confirmed the blaze has been extinguished.

Fourteen residents were sheltered in the nearby care center. A few residents inhaled smoke, but no one required hospital treatment, the spokesperson said.