The Dutch authorities made clear yesterday (Sunday) that they suspect it was a criminal act that caused a powerful explosion that caused an apartment building to collapse the day before Saturday, killing at least five people.

Rescue crews were still searching the wreckage yesterday after the explosion on Saturday morning. The number of people who may still be buried in them is unclear,

“We still don’t know what caused the explosion. What is clear to us is that there are indications that it was a crime,” said Attorney General Marrete Froberg.

Ms. Froberg noted that at this time it is not possible to provide more details about this evidence, so as not to threaten the investigation.

As of yesterday, five bodies had been recovered from the wreckage of the three-storey property. A fifth man was recovered alive and was rushed to hospital.

Four people are being treated in hospital.

Authorities stress that the ferocity of the fire makes it impossible to identify the victims thanks to DNA samples. This complicates matters, especially regarding the number of people still missing.

The director of the Hague police, Karin Crookert, said that at this stage the investigation is focused on a vehicle seen leaving the scene at high speed shortly after the explosion at 06:15 on Saturday.

“Obviously we would love to speak to the driver of that vehicle,” he noted, although it is unclear whether there was a connection between the car and the explosion so far.

Two separate teams have been set up to conduct investigations, the first to identify the victims, the second to determine the cause of the explosion, Ms. Crookert added, warning that the investigation would take time.

Mayor Jan van Zannen noted that elite search and rescue teams working on the scene were searching a basement of the collapsed building in a last-ditch effort to recover bodies.

He clarified that the work of the rescue teams was expected to be completed during the night or early morning.

“We are witnessing an unprecedented disaster (…) the suffering is immeasurable,” he added.

The three-storey building had shops on the ground floor and five maisonettes, according to authorities.

Residents told Dutch media that mostly elderly people and families with children lived in the property.

About 40 residents of buildings near the collapsed property were hurriedly evacuated from their homes.