Dutch residents receive NL Alerts as Amsterdam cargo ship fire continues

Several NL Alerts have been sent out to Dutch residents in the Amsterdam area as a fire on a scrap metal ship that started on Thursday evening continues. The blaze could last for hours or even days, so residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed.

Mobile alerts for Amsterdam ship fire

Emergency services received the first reports of a fire breaking out on a cargo ship in Amsterdam, Vlothavenweg at 5pm on Thursday, May 15. The fire started in the fourth hold of the five separate holds on the cargo ship.

"This eventually spread to hold three. The tactic was to empty the hold and extinguish the burning parts on shore. This was also attempted in hold three, but due to the heat, the hatches of hold three became weakened and closed," the fire brigade told NOS.

Residents received the first NL Alert in the evening when large amounts of smoke started accumulating. The most recent alert came through on Friday morning when the winds shifted, carrying the smoke towards the centre of the Dutch capital.

Amsterdam fire escalated to GRIP 2

At around 6am on Friday, the commanding officer in charge of the fire incident escalated the blaze to a GRIP 2. This means the incident has a definite effect on the surrounding area, and the emergency services are focused on suppressing the source and effects of the fire.

According to the Amsterdam Amstellan safety region, the fire could take hours or even days to extinguish. "We know that these types of fires can last for a long time," said Paul Kangangi of the Amsterdam Amstelland safety region on the NOS Radio 1 Journaal.