Explosion causes fire in Amsterdam home; Five hospitalized with smoke inhalation
A large explosion caused a fire in a home on Herculesstraat in Amsterdam-Zuid during the early hours of Friday morning. Five people were taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, Veiligheidsregio Amsterdam-Amstelland reported on X.
The explosion happened at around 2:00 a.m. The blast was so loud that even residents at the end of the street were awakened by the impact, a spokesperson for the fire department told AT5.
Firefighters started fighting the fire while the police evacuated the surrounding homes. Five people were taken to the hospital - the family with two children who live in the affected home, and the resident of another apartment.
The fire brigade also rescued two cats. They were taken away by the Animal Ambulance for a checkup.
The fire completely destroyed the home involved. It also damaged six surrounding homes, three of which are uninhabitable, said the Veiligheidsregio, the office that covers the region’s emergency services, among other things.
The cause of the explosion is not yet known. The police are investigating.
