Amsterdam just had a heart-stopping moment this Thursday when the iconic Vondelkerk in Vondelpark almost went up in flames! 😱🔥
Shortly before 1:00 a.m. local time (00:00 GMT), firefighters raced to the church tower as sparks and smoke billowed out. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but dozens of nearby homes had to be evacuated. Residents found refuge in a nearby yoga studio — talk about stretching beyond your comfort zone! 🧘♀️
Through the night, brave 🚒 teams battled the blaze to stop it from spreading to adjacent apartments. By dawn, the fire was under control, and the beloved 1872 landmark was spared. 🙏
Here's a quick rundown:
- Time: ~1:00 a.m. local
- Injuries: None
- Evacuations: Dozens of homes
- Current use: Event space and small businesses
- Status: Under investigation 🔍
For those of us in South and Southeast Asia, imagine your favorite centuries-old temple in Bali or a heritage bungalow in Kolkata nearly lost overnight. Heritage spots like these — and the Vondelkerk — carry our collective memories and culture. 📚✨
Big shoutout to the emergency crews who worked through the night to save this slice of history. We'll keep you posted as officials uncover the cause. 🙌
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
