An explosion occurred at the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, killing at least one person and injuring several others. Authorities are urgently investigating the cause, initially suspecting a work-related accident.
On 13 August 2026, Rotterdam police in the Netherlands reported an explosion at the Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port. The blast resulted in at least one death and several injuries. The explosion happened in the morning within the industrial area of the port, which houses the refinery and fuel transport station of Gunvor Energy. Officials have established a crime scene to collect evidence and investigate the cause of the explosion.
A Rotterdam police spokesperson stated that the explosion initially appears to be a work accident, but no definitive cause has been confirmed. Dutch broadcaster NOS reported that a maintenance team was working on a pipeline section within the refinery prior to the incident, and investigations are ongoing to determine if this work is linked to the explosion.
Meanwhile, Rotterdam’s emergency coordination unit reported a major power outage in another part of the port, along with a fire at an electrical transformer of unknown cause. This led to multiple companies halting operations and evacuating their staff for safety reasons.
Source: BBC