A major fire in an apartment block on Harry Koningsbergerstraat in Amsterdam Nieuw-West left one person dead and five injured on Monday evening. Firefighters found the victim inside one of the homes about three hours after the blaze started. Police have opened an investigation and are looking at possible criminal offenses.
The first alarm came in around 19:00. According to the safety region, the fire started in a third-floor apartment; residents heard alarms and fled the building. A second, smaller fire then broke out in another third-floor home where a pan was left on the stove. Crews from surrounding regions helped bring the blaze under control, and the fire was declared out just after 22:10.
Photo Credits: Floris Bronkhorst/Unsplash
Evacuation and injuries
Around 90 residents were evacuated. Some were taken down by ladder truck from their balconies. Two residents and two firefighters were treated on site for smoke inhalation, and one firefighter was taken to hospital with heat exhaustion. Evacuees were received at local football club AVV Sloterdijk; the city arranged hotel rooms for people who could not stay with family or friends.
Building damage and next steps
Officials say all ~100 apartments in the block are currently uninhabitable because of smoke, soot, water and shattered glass. Many windows were broken to clear smoke, and some homes have no power or water. Part of the street remained closed off while investigators and forensic teams worked at the scene.
Residents will be updated on re-entry and repairs through the municipality and the safety region. Anyone with information or camera footage from the area is asked to contact the police.
