Fire in Groningen Apartment Building Forces Evacuations, Suspect Arrested
Arson suspected in an apartment fire, which led to evacuations and rendered many homes uninhabitable.
Early Saturday morning, a major fire broke out in an apartment building on Oosterhamriklaan in Groningen. Many residents, including elderly people, had to be evacuated. Emergency services were called at around 5:30 AM after reports of a "large, fierce fire" on the ground floor, which filled the building with thick smoke.
Due to the seriousness of the situation, multiple fire trucks, ten ambulances, and police teams arrived to help. The emergency response was increased to ensure all teams could work together quickly. The first two floors and part of the third floor were evacuated as a safety measure. Thirteen residents were taken to a nearby building for shelter, and ambulance staff checked everyone’s condition. Two people were sent to the hospital for possible smoke inhalation.
Firefighters managed to control the fire around 6:15 AM, but several apartments were left badly damaged and are now uninhabitable.
A 50-year-old man from Groningen was arrested by police on suspicion of starting the fire. He was taken to a holding centre for questioning, and investigators are working to understand what caused the fire.
Efforts are ongoing to assess the damage and help those who lost their homes.
