A building explosion in the Netherlands has killed at least 6 people as authorities search for a driver who fled the scene

The number of deaths from explosion and fire that destroyed the apartment in the Netherlands increased to six on Monday, officials said, revealing that a girl was among the victims.

Rescuers pulled out a sixth body from the rubble early Monday morning in The Hague, fearing that they may find more victims of the explosion that occurred early Saturday.

“Around 02:30 in the morning, a sixth body was found in the cell of the collapsed building,” said the local fire department.

“The search for possible victims in the basement of the collapsed building continues, and a USAR dog has been deployed,” the ministry said later.

The police identified four of the dead as two men aged 45 and 31, a 41-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl. Four other people are in hospital, two are in critical condition.

Authorities do not know how many people were in the building at the time of the explosion, so it is unclear how many bodies may be found in the rubble.

The fire was so intense that identification is only possible through DNA testing, making the process difficult.

The police still do not know what caused the explosion, but the head of the public prosecutor's office told the media on Sunday that there are still unclear indications that it was a criminal act.

They are particularly interested in talking to the driver of the car that was seen speeding away from the scene at 6:15 am on Saturday.

A detailed search for clues to what caused the blast can only begin when the search for the victims' debris is complete, authorities said.

Dutch authorities deployed a special search and rescue team to the scene, along with four dogs trained to find victims. This group was used during the earthquake that caused great damage in Turkey in 2023.

Immediately after the explosion, a line of ambulances could be seen waiting nearby for more victims. A local hospital spokesperson said they are ready to deal with the injured.

The mayor called it “a very difficult day.”

“I was expecting a different Saturday,” van Zanen said at a press conference.

Prime Minister Dick Schoof said in a statement that he was shocked by the images of the disaster. “My thoughts go out to those who died, all the other people involved and the paramedics who worked at the scene,” he said.

The Dutch royal family expressed similar sentiments. “Our thoughts are with those affected in The Hague after the explosion and fire this morning,” including those “who fear the fate of their loved ones,” King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima said in a statement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.