A sports complex in Utrecht collapsed under the weight of snow, and there were 20 people inside; no one was injured.
The city of Utrecht nearly witnessed a disaster on Wednesday evening after part of a sports complex collapsed due to the heavy weight of the snow, while around 20 people were inside. Everyone managed to exit safely without any injuries.
The incident occurred at the Hal22 sports complex located on Zonnebaan Street in the city of Utrecht. The building includes a gym, padel, tennis, and squash courts, as well as bowling alleys. Preliminary estimates indicate that the accumulation of about 20 centimeters of snow over the past few days played a role in the collapse, while investigations are still ongoing to determine the exact cause.
The collapse occurred around seven in the evening, targeting the area that includes the paddle courts and the fitness center. It was initially unclear whether everyone inside had left the building, but its unstable condition prevented emergency teams from entering for a direct inspection.
Later, emergency teams used a drone to inspect the building from the inside. Relying on the access card system and the absence of any reports of missing persons, it was confirmed that everyone had exited unharmed. Photos circulated on social media showed people in sportswear waiting outside the building, many of whom had to leave without their personal belongings.
One of the owners of the complex, Berry Oferim, told ANP that the staff heard unusual noises and noticed cracks in the ceiling, prompting them to make an immediate decision to evacuate the building. A 27-year-old man, who was exercising inside the hall, stated to NOS that the urgency in the staff's tone indicated there was a real danger, confirming that everyone exited within just one minute. While he was relieved that no injuries occurred, the owner described what happened as a severe blow to the staff, visitors, and years of hard work.