A major fire broke out late Friday evening at the Nunhems seed company in the Dutch town of Nunhem, triggering multiple explosions and a large emergency response across the Limburg-Noord region.
According to the regional safety authority, Veiligheidsregio Limburg-Noord, the blaze erupted around 9 p.m. in one of the company’s warehouses, prompting officials to close the Napoleonsweg road and cordon off the surrounding area. Several fire trucks were deployed within minutes, and the incident was quickly classified as a major fire alert.
Witnesses reported hearing several loud explosions shortly after the fire began. Authorities later confirmed that the blasts originated from a warehouse containing agricultural vehicles and tanks. “That could be related to possibly exploding tanks,” a spokesperson for the safety authority said, adding that firefighters prevented stored diesel from igniting a move that likely averted a larger disaster.
Nearby resident and former employee Toos Caris, who worked at Nunhems for nearly four decades, described the chaotic scene. “We heard many bangs probably tractor tires exploding,” she told De Limburger. “There was a lot of fire, but the firefighters arrived incredibly fast. It’s unbelievable how many trucks showed up so quickly. The fire was put out fairly soon.”
Residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed as smoke drifted toward the nearby village of Buggenum. By 10:15 p.m., the fire was declared under control, and authorities reopened the Napoleonsweg and nearby streets.
“In the end, it wasn’t as awful as it first seemed,” the safety authority spokesperson said. The fire was successfully contained to one warehouse, with no spread to adjacent buildings. No injuries were reported.
Only security personnel were believed to be on-site after 6 p.m., according to both Caris and a current employee. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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