Video: Major fire destroys restaurant in Vught; Homes evacuated as thick smoke lingers
A major overnight fire at a shoarma restaurant in Vught forced the evacuation of nearby homes early Sunday and caused extensive damage to the building, Omroep Brabant reports.
The blaze broke out around 3:30 a.m. inside shoarma restaurant Ava-Karas on Vliertstraat in the center of the town. Firefighters described the incident as a “very large fire” that produced heavy smoke. As a precaution, several homes near the restaurant were evacuated. No injuries were reported.
The fire department said shortly after 5 a.m. that the situation was under control and the fire could no longer spread. However, flames inside the restaurant had not yet been fully extinguished at that point.
Residents who were forced to leave their homes were sheltered nearby while emergency crews worked at the scene. Firefighters continued cooling several hotspots and assessing safety conditions for surrounding houses.
By about 6:30 a.m., authorities said the fire had been fully extinguished, though crews remained on site conducting follow-up checks. Most evacuated residents were allowed to return home at that time. A spokesperson for the regional safety authority said officials were still determining whether the remaining residents could safely return, but indicated that appeared likely.
Dense black smoke from the blaze lingered in the area due to foggy conditions, preventing it from dispersing quickly. Nearby residents affected by the smoke were advised to close windows and doors and turn off automatic ventilation systems. By Sunday morning, the extent of the damage to the restaurant was clearly visible, with authorities describing it as severe.
