A New Year’s bonfire competition in the Netherlands went terribly wrong when a large structure made from wooden pallets burned fiercely creating multiple fire whirls and sending thousands of burning embers into populated areas. Spot fires ignited in grasses near the beach and firefighters mobilized aerial ladders to apply water to the roofs of multi-story buildings.
Police in the Scheveningen resort area of The Hague had to disperse the crowds in order to allow firefighters to access the area.
Below is an excerpt from ABC in Australia:
…It was lit as part of an annual bonfire competition between the districts of Scheveningen and nearby Duindorp, which are both situated on the Netherlands’ coast.
Sparks and ash rained down on those gathered, with the falling embers singeing their clothes and hair and igniting small building fires, according to local newspaper The Algemeen Dagblad.
The Hague’s Mayor, Pauline Krikke, said authorities would investigate what went wrong with the bonfires and whether the structures would need to be built differently in the future to prevent similar incidents.
“This was awful. I can imagine that people experienced anxious moments,” Dutch publication NL Times reported her as saying.
Mashindano ya moto wa mwaka mpya nchini Uholanzi yalienda vibaya sana wakati jengo kubwa lililotengenezwa kwa mbao lilipowaka moto sana na kuunda minyororo mingi ya moto na kutuma maelfu ya makaa ya moto katika maeneo yenye watu wengi. Moto ulizuka katika nyasi karibu na pwani na wazima moto walipeleka ngazi za angani ili kutumia maji kwenye paa za majengo ya ghorofa nyingi. Polisi katika eneo la mapumziko la Scheveningen huko The Hague walilazimika kutawanya umati ili kuruhusu wazima moto kuingia katika eneo hilo. "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika makala ya ""ABC Australia,"" moto huo ulizinduliwa katika mashindano ya kila mwaka ya moto kati ya wilaya za Scheveningen na Duindorp, ambazo zote mbili ziko kwenye pwani ya Uholanzi." Mvua ya majivu na majivu iliwaangukia watu waliokusanyika, na moto huo ulichoma nguo na nywele zao na kuwasha moto kwenye majengo madogo, kulingana na gazeti la habari la eneo hilo, The Algemeen Dagblad. Meya wa mji wa The Hague, Pauline Krikke, amesema mamlaka zitachunguza kilichotokea na kama majengo hayo yanahitaji kujengwa kwa njia tofauti ili kuzuia matukio kama hayo kutokea. <unk>Hii ilikuwa ya kutisha. Ninaweza kuwazia kwamba watu walipata wakati wa wasiwasi, <unk> gazeti la Uholanzi NL Times liliripoti kama alisema.