"Amsterdam's Vondel Church, near one of the city's most popular parks, was largely destroyed in a fire just as New Year celebrations were in full swing, local media reported on Thursday. The former Catholic Church's roughly 50-metre-high (164-feet) tower and the roof collapsed in the blaze, which an emergency services spokesperson said had made the 154-year-old structure "no longer salvageable." "It is a very intense and terrible fire in this monumental church," lamented Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema."
"The blaze was first reported shortly after midnight and was quickly escalated to a major incident, with firefighters calling in assistance from other regions of the Netherlands. The Dutch navy deployed its 60-meter-high aerial work platform to help tackle the blaze, officials said. Local media described how strong winds fanned the flames before the fire was brought under control on Thursday morning. A large number of nearby flats were evacuated as a precaution."
"No injuries were reported and investigators say they don't know what caused the fire. However, speculation is rising that the city's New Year's Eve fireworks may have played a part, as the blaze started so close to midnight, after the pyrotechnics had been set off. Amsterdam banned the sale of fireworks to the public in 2020, but many illegal ones were still set off across the city by residents."
Amsterdam's Vondel Church, a 154-year-old neo-Gothic former Catholic building near Vondelpark, was largely destroyed by a New Year fire that collapsed its roughly 50-metre tower and roof. Firefighters escalated the blaze to a major incident shortly after midnight, with assistance called from other regions and the Dutch navy deploying a 60-meter aerial work platform. Strong winds fanned flames before control was regained and numerous nearby flats were evacuated as a precaution. No injuries were reported and investigators have not determined a cause, though suspicion falls on New Year's Eve fireworks despite a public sales ban since 2020. The building had been repurposed as an event venue since 1977.
Read at www.dw.com
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