The blasts occurred at around 06:15 (05:15 GMT) on Saturday, causing the collapse of several homes in the Tarwekamp area.

Firefighters rushed to the scene of the three-storey building, but the extent of the devastation has left many questions unanswered. The city's mayor, Jan van Zanen, confirmed the incident and stated that it remains unclear how many people are still missing. He urged the community to brace for a "worst case scenario," as the chances of pulling survivors from the rubble are slim.

The cause of the explosions has yet to be determined, but Dutch police noted that a car was seen driving away at "very high speed" shortly after the blasts. Authorities have appealed for witnesses to come forward with any information.

Initially, it was thought that up to 20 people might have been inside the flats at the time of the explosion. However, the mayor declined to speculate on this number. A fourth body has been recovered, and a fifth person has been hospitalized. The fire service also mentioned that a fifth person was pulled from the rubble but later died, though it is unclear if this is the same individual taken to the hospital.

Earlier reports indicated that four people were injured, but the mayor later revised this number to three. Dutch media reported that five flats were destroyed in the explosion.

Rescue teams with sniffer dogs have been deployed to sift through the debris, although parts of the site remain too dangerous to access. A large excavator has been brought in to remove debris, and lighting has been erected to assist in the ongoing efforts. (ILKHA)