Days after Utrecht explosion, residents return, shops reopen; Three cats still missing
Almost three days after a large explosion and fire destroyed a home in Utrecht’s historic city center, some residents have returned to their homes, and parts of the nearby Springweg shopping street have reopened, though several businesses remain closed.
The explosion occurred Thursday afternoon, around 3:30 p.m., in a residence on Visschersteeg. Four people sustained injuries as multiple buildings collapsed. Many shops sustained broken windows and doors, along with glass and smoke damage.
Some business owners reopened on Saturday. Richard den Besten, who runs a manga comic book store on Springweg, told NOS the explosion shattered the store’s front windows and damaged the stained glass. Den Besten was en route to his shop when the blast occurred.
“From the outside, it looked severe, but inside it’s not as bad,” he told the newspaper. “There is glass everywhere, but we were able to reopen today. Many people are coming by to see the street, but also as customers.” Den Besten added that he spent a significant portion of his day cleaning up.
Other businesses on Springweg continue to remain closed. According to Centrummanagement Utrecht (CMU), 22 shops on the street are too close to the blast site to reopen safely. “Some buildings on Springweg are structurally unsafe,” a CMU spokesperson said. “In addition, the investigators and repair teams need space in the street. It may take a long time before these shops can open again.”
Residents also continue to deal with the aftermath. Alfred, who lives behind the destroyed building, reported extensive damage to backyards. In the Springweg parking garage, most cars have been removed; vehicle owners had until 2:00 p.m. Saturday to retrieve them, though a few cars remain.
No missing residents have been reported, but at least three cats are still unaccounted for. Two belong to a woman living on Springweg. The owner's daughter told RTV Utrecht that the partial closure of the area is making it difficult to locate the animals. The local animal ambulance confirmed no other pets are missing.
