Several buildings in Utrecht’s historic city centre have collapsed in the blast, and it was a stroke of luck that no one was home during the explosion.
The Visscherssteeg, an alley between the Stadsbuitengracht and the Oudegracht canals, was hit by one or more explosions yesterday afternoon, reports RTL Nieuws.
A routine weekday afternoon turned into a scene of rubble, sirens, and distressed residents.
“It’s truly shocking,” Mayor Dijksma told RTL Nieuws, adding that the residents must have had “an angel on their shoulders.”
What happened, and when
At around 3:30 PM on January 15, an explosion was reported in Visscherssteeg, in the centre of Utrecht.
The blast was powerful enough to demolish parts of several buildings and trigger a fire, which firefighters could only extinguish by mid-evening.
An eyewitness sitting at a nearby restaurant when the explosion took place, told RTL Nieuws: “It felt like the whole building lifted two or three centimetres.”
Due to the risk of further collapse, a large area was instantly barricaded.
Counting the casualties
In the aftermath of the explosion, four people were lightly injured, one person was rushed to the hospital, and a bystander felt unwell at the scene.
Meanwhile, emergency services confirmed that no residents were home at the time of the explosion.
One resident, who is normally always home on Thursdays, happened to be away. “A miracle,” neighbours said.
Wat een ravage… #Utrecht pic.twitter.com/QtfTrCH40L
— Berry (@Nuldettig) January 15, 2026
As firefighting efforts continued into the night, displaced residents stayed at the Karel V Hotel or with friends and family.
As residents began to process the initial shock later that evening, a Dutch Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team arrived with sniffer dogs to sift through the debris.
Their search continued through the night, though as of this morning, no victims have been located.
Gas smell, but no clear cause
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
While a gas leak was detected in the vicinity, authorities have yet to determine if it triggered the blast or occurred as a result of it.
Although foul play is considered unlikely, investigators are determined to leave no stone unturned.
As a precaution, gas and electricity have been disconnected for 40 nearby residences, and the Springweg parking garage remains closed.
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