A devastating fire is raging in the city centre of Arnhem in the east of the Netherlands. Several stores and apartments have been destroyed, forcing people to evacuate.
According to RTL Nieuws, asbestos has also been released during the fire. People are urged not to approach the city centre.
All hands on deck
There are currently 150 firefighters trying to get the situation under control. They’re employing the help of thermal cameras and drones to determine which buildings are still on fire.
So far, no casualties have been reported.
Around 150 firefighters are currently fighting a fire in the historic city center of #Arnhem, The #Netherlands. The blaze has spread to ~10 buildings with 10 shops and 25 apartments. Evacuations are underway and there have been no reports of casualties so far.
📸 PB Heitink pic.twitter.com/L1qLDfO99j— Michael Barthel (MiBaWi) (@RealMiBaWi) March 6, 2025
Between 60 and 80 people have been successfully evacuated and set up in a nearby town hall, but it’s unclear if all houses under threat have been cleared.
The municipality warns residents to stay out of the smoke, not touch any debris, and to avoid the city centre.
Widespread destruction
The fire started last night in the party supply store SoLow on Jansstraat and spread to the Body Shop, Etos, and YOYO! Fresh Tea Bar, and a few dozen apartments.
Many of these 18th and 19th-century buildings are built with wood, so the fire spreads quickly. They cannot be re-entered yet due to the heat and risk of collapse.
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“Between 8 and 10 shops and a block of houses can be considered lost,” René Bierman, spokesperson for the Gelderland Midden region, told Omroep Gelderland.
Meanwhile, the police are still trying to determine the cause of the fire.
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