Firework accidents kill two in Netherlands as fire ravages Amsterdam church

"The 50-metre-high (164-foot) tower collapsed, and the roof was badly damaged, but the structure was expected to remain intact, Amsterdam authorities said. The cause of the blaze was not immediately clear. Emergency services had brought the fire under control by the morning. There were no injuries in the fire at the church. A large number of flats in the vicinity were evacuated, and about 90 households were temporarily without power."

"Strong winds fanned the flames and caused sparks to fly. It is a very intense and terrible fire in this monumental church, said Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema, Dutch media reported. Our first concern and priority now is the wellbeing and homes of the immediate residents. The Vondel Church was used as a Roman Catholic church until 1977. Most recently, it was used for other purposes and special occasions such as concerts. In 1904, a fire destroyed the church's original tower."

"Separately, the head of the Dutch Police Union, Nine Kooiman, reported an unprecedented amount of violence against police and emergency services across the country over New Year's Eve, when some 250 people were arrested, and in several towns riot police were deployed. Kooiman said she had been pelted three times by fireworks and other explosives as she worked a shift in Amsterdam. In the southern city of Breda, people threw petrol bombs at police. Separate fireworks accidents killed a 38-year-old man in Aalsmeer,"

A blaze destroyed much of the Neo-Gothic Vondelkerk in Amsterdam in the early hours of Thursday. The 50-metre-high tower collapsed and the roof was badly damaged, though the main structure was expected to remain intact. Emergency services brought the fire under control by morning. No injuries were reported. Strong winds fanned flames, forced evacuations of nearby flats and left about 90 households temporarily without power. The Vondel Church served as a Roman Catholic church until 1977 and later hosted concerts and special events. Separately, New Year's Eve violence left two people dead in fireworks accidents, about 250 arrests, and attacks on police.

Read at www.aljazeera.com