THE HAGUE - A three-storey apartment block in The Hague partially collapsed Saturday after a fire and explosion, firefighters said, with first responders searching for people under the rubble.
"At this moment, the emergency services are busy rescuing and searching for people and fighting the fire," said the city's fire service in a statement.
It was not known how many people could be missing nor what caused the explosion in the block of flats not far from the centre of the city.
An AFP reporter on the scene said there were dozens of fire trucks as firefighters battled the blaze from the ground and from higher positions.
Debris was strewn across the street and several windows had been blown out, the AFP reporter said.
Huge plumes of smoke were billowing from a large hole where the building stood, with an acrid smell in the air.
According to local media outlet Regio15, several people had already been rescued from the scene.
Four people injured in the explosion had been taken to local hospitals, according to the fire service.
"The fire is releasing a lot of smoke in the immediate vicinity... Residents are advised to close windows and doors and turn off ventilation," authorities said.
The city's mayor Jan van Zanen was on site to coordinate rescue efforts, according to Regio15.
Homes on multiple floors appeared to have been destroyed by the explosion, said Regio15.
Early images from public broadcaster NOS showed several dozen firefighters tackling a large blaze and breaking down doors to gain access to the block.
A picture from local news agency ANP showed one person being led away on a stretcher into a waiting ambulance.
Elite search and rescue teams, specialised in searching for victims in natural disasters and earthquakes, were on their way to the scene with trained dogs, NOS said.