Explosion and fire in Dutch city of Utrecht caused by gas leak, officials say
A fire that broke out following a large explosion at a house in the Dutch city of Utrecht was caused by a gas leak, officials say.
At least four people were injured in the incident, which happened near Visscherssteeg, an alley in the city centre, on Thursday afternoon. Utrecht Mayor Sharon Dijksma said none of the injuries were life-threatening.
The cause of the gas leak is unknown but it is not thought to have been caused deliberately.
The blaze has since been put out but it took firefighters several hours.
Large plumes of smoke were seen rising above the house, and the nearby streets were covered with rubble and glass.
One eyewitness told RTL News that they had heard a “deafening bang” and that ” everything in the alley was destroyed”.
Other people told the Volksrant newspaper that the walls and windows of several buildings were blown out, and many nearby shops were damaged.
Local residents were evacuated, while members of the public were advised to stay away from the area.
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