Explosion rips through fitness studio under Amsterdam flat, seven injured and 400 evacuated

Explosion and fire in Osdorper Ban

An explosion occurred around 0:15 a.m. on Friday in the ancillary building of a flat on Osdorper Ban in Amsterdam Nieuw-West. The blast blew out large sections of the facade, created a gaping hole in the side wall, and caused part of the fitness studio inside to collapse. The explosion was audible across much of the city. A major fire followed, which spread to the apartment block above. Emergency services escalated the incident to "very large fire" status and deployed specialist urban search and rescue teams, including dog handlers, as well as bomb disposal experts from the Explosieven Opruimingsdienst Defensie (EOD). The fire was extinguished around 5:00 a.m., though the search for possible victims continues carefully due to the unknown cause of the blast.

Injuries and ongoing search

Seven people were injured, one of them seriously. Earlier reports indicated four people had been taken to hospital, but the number rose as the night progressed. It remains unclear whether anyone was inside the fitness studio at the time of the explosion. Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams with sniffer dogs are systematically combing the partly collapsed building, a process expected to take a long time. A specialized technical rescue unit from the fire brigade is also on site assessing the risk of further collapse.

“It is still unclear whether there were people in the building at the time of the explosion.”

Evacuation and shelter

Around 400 residents were evacuated from the flat. About 100 were taken by GVB buses to a city service point at Osdorpplein, where they are receiving psychosocial support. The area around the building was cordoned off with fences to give emergency crews space to work. Dense smoke prompted authorities to advise nearby residents to keep windows and doors closed and turn off ventilation, although measurements in the area showed no elevated levels of hazardous substances. Three parked cars were damaged by flying debris.

Investigation underway

The cause of the explosion is not yet known. The EOD has not commented on possible explanations, stating that speculation should be avoided. The gas supply to the building has been cut off to allow the fire brigade to work safely, but all scenarios are being considered. The investigation is being carried out in parallel with the search for casualties, requiring a thorough and methodical approach.