Blast Rocks Utrecht City Centre — Major Fire, Four Injured and Several Buildings Collapse

A powerful explosion tore through a building in the centre of Utrecht on Thursday afternoon, triggering a large fire and causing multiple nearby buildings to collapse, local authorities said.

Authorities reported that four people were injured in the blast and were taken to the emergency hospital for treatment. Emergency crews remained on scene into the evening as the blaze continued to burn.

Emergency services work on the street where a large fire broke out after an explosion, in Utrecht, Netherlands, January 15, 2026. REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw

Officials warned that it was not safe for firefighters to enter the damaged structure because of its instability, and they could not confirm whether anyone remained trapped inside or under the rubble.

"We are not sure whether there are still people trapped under the rubble, which is definitely there... the police are working hard on the investigation," Utrecht Mayor Sharon Dijksma said.

Local authorities described the affected area as densely populated and said there was "extensive damage" across the site. Residents who were evacuated for safety reasons have been temporarily housed in a nearby hotel.

Emergency services work on the street where a large fire broke out after an explosion, in Utrecht, Netherlands, January 15, 2026. REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw

The cause of the explosion remained unknown as investigators and police continued their work at the scene. Emergency services urged the public to avoid the area while the response and investigation continue.

Reporting by Benoit Van Overstraeten and Marta Fiorin; Editing by Bart Meijer and Sudip Kar-Gupta.