Explosion in Utrecht city centre likely caused by gas leak

The fire that started after an explosion in the centre of Utrecht, likely caused by a gas leak, has been extinguished. At least four people were injured in the blast and there are no known fatalities. Emergency services have closed off the surrounding area until 4pm on Friday.

No victims found in search of Utrecht explosion site

At around 3.30pm on Thursday, emergency services responded to reports of explosions on Visscherssteeg in the Utrecht city centre. A large fire broke out after the explosion and several buildings collapsed. The area around the site, including Springweg and Mariaplaats, was quickly cordoned off.

According to the Utrecht Safety Region, at least four people were injured, but after searches throughout the night with sniffer dogs, no victims were found and no one has been reported missing. Fatalities cannot be ruled out completely, as the dogs only respond to living victims and the buildings are still too dangerous for the fire department to enter.

"The buildings are literally on the verge of collapse, so we have to shore them up so we can enter them ourselves," safety region spokesperson Marcel van Westendorp told NOS. It’s uncertain when they’ll be able to enter. "We'll see over the course of the day. First, we need to make things safe."

Area around Utrecht city centre explosion closed off 

The municipality has announced that the area will remain closed off until 4pm on Friday, January 16. “We request that you do not enter the closed area unless you have a reason to do so. This will allow emergency services to do their work. The area is also closed to businesses, restaurants, the Conservatory, and shoppers,” wrote the municipality in an update.

Residents who live in the area had to stay with friends and family or at a nearby hotel during the night. It is still unknown when residents will be allowed to return to their homes. 

The gas has been turned off, and the area will likely be without gas for several days. The parking garage on Springweg will also be inaccessible for the next few days. The municipality is urging residents to use alternative transportation if their cars are parked there.

The cause of the explosion and fire is still being investigated, but emergency services suspect that a gas leak is the likely cause. Work was being carried out in the building, which the safety region has noted for the investigation.