Hague (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A sixth body has been found in the remains of the apartment building in the Hague, that partially collapsed after a powerful explosion.
As reported by officials, the death toll from an explosion and fire that obliterated an apartment block in the Hague climbed to six on 9 Dec 2024 indicating a teenage girl also was among the victims. The sixth body was “recovered from the cellar of the collapsed building,” the fire service stated.
The building was destroyed on 8 Dec 2024 Saturday following an explosion and resulting blaze. The police were able to identify four of the victims: two men aged 45 and 31, a 41-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl. The fire was so severe that identification was only possible through DNA testing, further problematizing the process.
In his grieving remarks, Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima stated in a statement: “We sympathise with all those who have been personally affected or who fear for the fate of their loved ones.”
How are grieving families coping after the tragic explosion?
The family’s statement expressed their devastation following the disaster. “The grief over the loss of our loved ones is immense,” the statement read. “At the same time, the care for the young son demands all our love and attention.” The family also conveyed gratitude to emergency responders and the schools observed by the children for their support and condolences.
Later Monday, firefighters expressed they had finished the search for possible victims tangled in the rubble. “The emergency services did not find any other victims during the searches in the collapsed building,” the fire brigade said. “Dogs (…) were also deployed during the searches in the unsecured part of the building. They also found nothing. It was then decided to end the search,” they said.
What caused the powerful explosion in the Hague?
The cause of the blasts remains under investigation, but authorities have implied that criminal activity is suspected. The Public Prosecution Service (OM) is exploring potential ties to a deliberate act, and police are probing for the driver of a car noticed fleeing the scene at high speed immediately after the incident.
However, police spokespersons dismissed the speculation, including tales circulated on social media, that the explosion was driven by a drug lab. “There is no evidence that a drug lab was present at the site of the explosion,” a spokesperson said.
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