Seven homes uninhabitable after parking garage fire in Rotterdam

A fire in a parking garage on Katadreuffestraat near the Laan op Zuid early Sunday morning has left seven homes uninhabitable due to structural damage caused by the blaze. Five cars, including at least three electric vehicles, caught fire in the garage, prompting the evacuation of dozens of residents.

The fire broke out around 3:15 a.m. in the garage, located beneath a residential building in the Afrikaanderwijk neighborhood. Heavy smoke filled the area, forcing residents of the affected apartments to leave their homes. Emergency services reported significant damage to the structure of the building, with visible cracks in the concrete.

“Residents of seven apartments cannot return home,” stated the Rijnmond Safety Region in an update Sunday morning. “A structural engineer will need to assess the extent of the damage.”
Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire. Preliminary reports suggest a possible short circuit in one of the electric vehicles, but this has not yet been confirmed.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze, but due to the involvement of electric vehicles, specialized precautions were required. Damaged electric cars were removed from the garage using a remotely controlled robotic tow truck. To prevent the batteries from reigniting, the vehicles were submerged in large water containers.

“The process of handling electric vehicles is complex,” noted a spokesperson for the safety region. “We needed to ensure there was no risk of further fire from the batteries.”

Residents who lived above the garage watched as their belongings were removed from burned-out vehicles. Some stood on the street, looking at license plates salvaged from the wreckage. “I lost my car, and now I can’t go back to my home,” one resident said. “We have no idea when it will be safe again.”

Temporary housing has been arranged for the displaced residents, with some being accommodated by the municipality and others staying with friends or family.