Explosion causes large fire in Dutch town of Utrecht, at least four injured

A significant explosion triggered a massive blaze in the historic center of Utrecht, one of the Netherlands’ principal urban centers, on Thursday afternoon, resulting in at least four confirmed injuries. Emergency services rushed to the scene following the detonation, which ignited a ferocious fire that continued to rage for hours. Local municipal authorities confirmed to national broadcaster NOS that an emergency field hospital was rapidly established near the incident site to treat casualties and assist emergency responders. As of 4:30 PM GMT, the fire remained uncontained, with intense flames and structural instability preventing firefighters from entering the affected building to conduct search and rescue operations. The precise number of potential individuals still inside the structure remains unknown due to the ongoing dangers. Municipal officials have stated that the definitive cause of the explosion is currently under investigation, with no immediate determination available. The incident has drawn a substantial emergency response, with multiple fire crews, paramedics, and police units deployed to secure the area and provide assistance.