There was a “giant explosion”, the ANP news agency reported, citing a spokesman for the local fire brigade.
It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion or whether there were more victims.
Wat een ravage… #Utrecht pic.twitter.com/QtfTrCH40L
— Berry (@Nuldettig) January 15, 2026
Officials urged local residents to stay away from the area while emergency services rushed to the scene.
– It is also possible that there are still people under the ruins – said Mayor Sharon Dijksma for the public broadcaster NOS.
A huge blast rocked the central Dutch city of Utrecht, collapsing several buildings and injuring at least four people. “The ground was shaking,” one witness said. The cause of the blast was not immediately clear. https://t.co/oCRASKm1TL pic.twitter.com/WDvFyv7F0s
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) January 15, 2026
Television footage showed a plume of smoke rising over the historic city center and rubble strewn across the streets.
“I knew right away that this was bad – NOS quoted one of the witnesses, Margot Schroevers.
– The ground was shaking – she said.
The local hospital in Utrecht has established an emergency trauma center. The Red Cross called on volunteers to head there as soon as possible, reports Reuters.
(Vijesti.ba / FENA)
