The Arnhem fire brigade has not received any reports about missing or injured, and does not yet assume that there have been fatalities in the large -scale fire in the city center. That said Albert-Jan van Maren of the Safety Region Thursday afternoon during a specially inserted press conference in the Arnhem council chamber. Probably pets were killed in the fire, which broke out in the night from Wednesday to Thursday.
The fire is now limited, but still not extinguished. According to Van Maren, this is a complex fire, because it concerns old buildings that are branched together. The fire brigade demolishes part of the buildings to extinguish the last hot spots, albeit. There are a number of buildings in the Jansstraat that the fire brigade has not yet been able to enter, so it cannot yet be completely excluded or there are victims there, although there is “no reason” according to Van Maren to think so. “There were no injuries among all the people who were evacuated.”
‘Messages about set -up taken seriously’
Furthermore, of Maren residents announced that no asbestos has been released and that particles of burnt buildings ‘safely’ with soap and water can be brushed away.
Police chief of Arnhem Erik Bomhof thought it was too early to draw conclusions about possible setup. He doesn’t exclude anything, he said, but can’t confirm anything. According to local media, stories are about people who would be spotted at the time of the outbreak of the fire. “All messages are taken seriously and there is a investigation team that will work with it,” the police chief promised. Because the burnt -out buildings are not yet allowed to enter due to the risk of collapse, trace research is not possible and it is still ‘too early’ for answers.
‘Not all residents back’
Deputy mayor Cathelijne Bouwkamp (GroenLinks) speaks of a black day for Arnhem. “Different homes are in ruins, residents had to leave their homes. Entrepreneurs saw their business lost. The grief is great. ”
This afternoon, the evacuated residents of Huizen who have not burned down will discuss when they can return to their houses. “A number of residents cannot go back, some,” said the deputy mayor about that.