Major fire injures four at seasonal worker complex near Arnhem

A fireman inspects the smouldering ruins. Photo: ANP/Hollandse Hoogte/Luuk van der Lee
A fireman inspects the smouldering ruins. Photo: ANP/Hollandse Hoogte/Luuk van der Lee

Four people have been injured in a fire at a complex in Velp, near Arnhem, which was lived in by mainly Polish and Romanian seasonal workers.

Two of the inhabitants jumped out of a window to escape the blaze and were taken to hospital with broken bones. Two others were hospitalised after inhaling smoke.

The fire started at around 6am and took several hours to put out.

The cause of the fire is not yet known, but a fire brigade spokesman told local broadcaster Omroep Gelderland there were rumours the occupants may have been using a gas barbecue on the roof.

The spokesman said 13 people are listed as living in the property, which is made up of several separate houses, but council officials said up to 39 people were allowed to live there. The fire brigade have not yet accessed the building because it is at risk of collapse but a preliminary scan showed no-one else was in inside.

A number of nearby properties were evacuated because of the blaze.

The same property hit the headlines two years ago when 28 residents were placed in quarantine on board a boat because of a coronavirus outbreak.

Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation