One dead, several injured in Rotterdam port explosion; cause under investigation

One person was killed and several others injured in an explosion at Rotterdam port in the Netherlands on Thursday, according to a Rotterdam police spokesperson. The blast occurred on the Moezelweg road at approximately 11:30 a.m. local time (0930 GMT), police said, adding that the scene has been cordoned off and an investigation into the cause is ongoing.

Rotterdam police announced the explosion in a post on the social media platform X, confirming the crime scene had been secured and that the circumstances remained under investigation.

Separately, Gunvor Energy, which operates oil product storage tanks in the same area near the port, reported a distinct 'incident' that occurred during maintenance activity on Thursday morning, leaving at least several people injured. A Gunvor spokesperson said the company was cooperating with local authorities.

Local media reported that several power outages affected Rotterdam port earlier on Thursday. Police and local safety authorities said they were still investigating whether those outages were connected to the explosion.

Rotterdam port, the largest in Europe, encompasses an oil refinery and multiple petrochemicals facilities.

According to The Independent, a spokesperson for oil company Shell confirmed that the explosion had not affected Shell's operations. Shell's response was not mentioned in The Straits Times report.

• The precise cause of the explosion has not been established.
• Whether the Gunvor Energy maintenance incident and the explosion on Moezelweg are connected has not been confirmed.
• Whether the earlier power outages at Rotterdam port are linked to the explosion remains unverified.
• The total number of injured persons across both incidents has not been precisely stated.
• The identities or affiliations of the fatality and the injured have not been disclosed.
• No information is provided on whether any hazardous materials were released.

1. The Straits Times — original — by The Straits Times
2. The Independent — by Charlotte Van Campenhout

Read the original at The Straits Times

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