The Hague explosion: Nine injured after blast in Dutch city causes houses to collapse

Three people rescued from rubble as emergency workers look for others in wreckage

Emergency workers recovered two injured people from a collapsed three-story home (AP)

Nine people were injured after a gas explosion in The Hague caused the front of a building to collapse, the Dutch city’s fire department has said.

Emergency workers rescued three injured people from a collapsed three-story home in the city in the Netherlands and are looking for anyone else who might have been killed or injured.

At least seven people have been taken to nearby hospitals, The Hague fire department said.

RTL News said the blast had caused three houses to collapse. It said nearby residents had been evacuated as a precaution.

A story and photograph published by local news service Omroep West said a single building had collapsed after a blast and emergency services were at the scene.

City emergency services spokesman John Kardol said it remained unclear what caused the gas explosion.

The blast tore off the home’s front and demolished the dwelling, damaging nearby homes and cars.

Emergency workers recovered two injured people from the collapsed three-story home (AP/Wong Maye-E) (AP)

Debris covering part of the street and parked vehicles complicated the search.

As darkness fell, fire engine lights shined on exposed rooms where a sofa, table and chairs still could be seen on the third floor.

Sniffer dogs were brought in to aid the search. Rescue teams worked carefully because the building’s extensive structural damage meant more sections might collapse.