There has been a major fire in Visscherssteeg. The fire has been extinguished, but the area is still cordoned off to the public. Local residents are being accommodated in hotels in Utrecht. Follow this page for more information. We will update this page regularly.
Live updates
16 january | 9 pm: Emergency services prepare for tomorrow
Following the explosion and subsequent fire in Visschersteeg in the centre of Utrecht, intensive emergency assistance has been provided and information disseminated in recent days. Below is the latest update:
- An increasingly larger area has been cleared in the course of the day. Zadelstraat and Mariaplaats, part of Visschersplein (up to Lint), Boterstraat, Strosteeg and Alendorpstraat are now accessible.
- Utility companies are working hard to restore water, gas and electricity in the area.
- Salvage will continue to escort residents to their homes until approximately 9.30 pm
- The police will monitor the entire area tonight.
- Investigations in the cordoned-off area will resume tomorrow. Salvage will be present in the area tomorrow to guide residents and businesses to their homes or businesses.
- The Springweg car park will be opened tomorrow so that vehicles can be removed from the car park between 8 am and 2 pm This will allow owners to retrieve their cars under supervision.
- The municipal information point in the town hall will be open tomorrow from between 9.00 am and 5 pm. The municipality can be reached by telephone throughout the weekend via the customer contact centre on 14 030.
- For more information, keep an eye on this site.
16 january | 7.30 pm: Part of cordoned-off area reopened
The emergency services have reopened part of the cordoned-off area. Strosteeg and Alendorpstraat are accessible again. The tape is being removed and residents can return to their homes under supervision. They are being assisted by Salvage.
The area remains closed to traffic. Utilities are gradually being restored to the buildings on these streets.
What is closed off?
The streets marked in blue, red and yellow on the map remain closed off. In the area marked in blue, people can return home under police supervision to quickly collect their essential belongings. The areas marked in red and yellow remain closed off; the area marked in yellow is currently being investigated.
A large area is still closed off. We request that you do not enter the closed-off area unless you have a valid reason to do so. This will allow emergency services to do their work.
16 january | 7.30 pm: Municipal accessibility during the weekend
The information point in the town hall and the Customer Contact Centre will close at 8 pm tonight. In order to be able to answer questions from residents and businesses in the affected area of the city centre during the weekend, the municipal information point will be open tomorrow from 9 am to 5 pm The municipality can be reached by telephone throughout the weekend via the customer contact centre on 14 030.
16 january | 4.45 pm: Pick up your car from Springweg parking garage today or tomorrow
Is your car parked in the Springweg parking garage? You can pick it up on January 16 until 7.00 pm If you are unable to pick up your car today, you can also do so on January 17 between 8.00 am and 2.00 pm. You do not have to pay to exit the parking garage.
Please report to the cordoned-off area near the Springhavertheater. You can get there via Lange Smeestraat or Haverstraat. The boa officers and police will escort you into the garage and inform you how to exit the garage.
16 january | 4.24 pm: Part of cordoned-off area now open
The emergency services have reopened part of the cordoned-off area. The green areas on the map are now accessible: Zadelstraat and Mariaplaats, part of Visschersplein (up to Lint) and Boterstraat.
The green area will be gradually reopened until around 5 pm. The barriers will be removed and residents and businesses will be able to enter as normal. The area will remain closed to traffic. Utilities will be gradually restored to the buildings on these streets.
A large area is still closed off. We ask that you do not enter the closed-off area unless you have a reason to do so. This will allow emergency services to do their work. The streets marked in blue, red, and yellow on the map will remain closed. In the area marked in blue, people can return home under police supervision to quickly collect essential items. They can still report to the town hall. The areas marked in red and yellow remain closed off; the area marked in yellow is currently being investigated.
16 january | 1.45 pm: Pick up your car from the Springweg parking garage until 7.00 pm
Is your car parked in the Springweg parking garage? You can pick it up today between 1.30 pm and 7.00 pm. You do not have to pay to exit the parking garage.
You can access the garage via Lange Smeestraat or Haverstraat. The boa officers and police will escort you into the garage and inform you how to exit the garage.
16 january | 11.58 am: Information point opened from 12.00 pm
From 12.00 pm, we will open an information point in the city hall (Stadhuisbrug 1) for residents and businesses in the affected area. Please report to the lobby.
16 january | 10.24 am: Contact your own doctor for medication
Do you need prescription medication and are you unable to access your home? Please contact your own doctor.
16 january | 10.14 am: No victims under the rubble
The fire department has carefully searched for victims under the rubble. None have been found and there is no indication that anyone is missing. Demolition work has been suspended in order to investigate the cause of the fire.
16 january | 8.45 am: Do not enter the cordoned-off area
A large area is still cordoned off. We ask that you do not enter the closed-off area unless you have a reason to do so. This will allow emergency services to do their work. The area is also closed to businesses, restaurants, the Conservatorium, and the shopping public. This will remain in effect until Friday, January 16, at 4.00 pm. Further updates on the situation will follow.
16 january | 1.29 am: Live blog closed for the day
Emergency services will remain active in the affected area throughout the night. This live blog is now closed.
15 january | 23.54 pm: Police and boa officers remain in the area
The police will remain in the affected area throughout the night.
15 january | 23.21 pm: Pets and medication
Do you have pets or medication in your home that you cannot access due to the fire? Please report to the support center at Hotel Karel V. We will assess each situation individually to determine how we can help you.
15 january | 20.14 pm: Press briefing at 9.00 pm
At 9.00 pm, Mayor Sharon Dijksma will give a brief statement to the press at the city office.
15 january | 18.59 pm: Response from Mayor Sharon Dijksma
"This explosion has had an enormous impact on the heart of our city. Everyone is extremely shocked, especially the people in the immediate vicinity. I have spoken to many of them by now. Much remains unclear, but there is a lot of damage and we know that people have been injured. The emergency services are working hard to help people. For anyone who cannot go home, shelter has been arranged for as long as necessary."
Questions?
If you have any questions, please call: 14 030. In addition, we will open an information point in the town hall (Stadhuisbrug 1) for residents and businesses in the affected area from 9 am. Please report to the lobby.
What do we know now?
(updated: 16 january 9.30 pm)
- A large area remains cordoned off.
- Do not enter the cordoned-off area.
- At 3.30 pm, there were one or more explosions in Visscherssteeg.
- This was followed by a fire. The fire department has now extinguished the fire.
- Several buildings have collapsed. There is extensive damage in the surrounding area.
- 3 people have suffered minor injuries, one of whom is in hospital. One bystander also fell ill.
- No one has been reported missing. The fire department is still searching the buildings to be sure.
- There was a gas leak, which has now been shut off. It is not yet known whether this was the cause of the explosion. A crime does not seem likely.
- The gas has been shut off in a wider area.
- Investigations are underway to determine which homes in the area are safe and habitable again.
- We are accommodating local residents who are unable to find shelter in hotels in Utrecht. Local residents should no longer report to Hotel Karel V. If you have any questions, please call: 14 030. In addition, we have opened an information point in the town hall (Stadhuisbrug 1) for residents and businesses in the affected area from 12 pm.
- The Salvage Foundation is offering support to local residents and businesses.
- The police and boa officers will remain in the affected area throughout the night.
- You can collect your car from the Springweg parking garage until 7 pm today.
- You can pick up your car at the Springweg parking garage on saturday from 8.00 am to 2.00 pm.
