Khaberni - A massive fire broke out in a church about 150 years old in the Dutch capital Amsterdam on New Year's Eve, while the country witnessed a wave of violence and incidents related to fireworks that forced the police to intervene in several cities.
The fire started just after midnight; causing the collapse of the church tower built in 1872 by the famous architect Peter Cuypers, designer of the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Central Station.
The city's mayor, Femke Halsema, described the incident as "severe and dreadful," confirming that the authorities' priority was to protect the residents of neighboring homes, who were evacuated as a precautionary measure.
Emergency services reported that flaming embers were blown towards the city center; prompting the authorities to issue an urgent warning through the public alert system, asking residents to stay away from the area, close windows and doors, and shut off ventilation systems.
The church, which had been used as a Catholic cathedral for over a century, had in recent years been transformed into a venue for celebratory events, and is located on the edge of Vondelpark, the city's largest public garden.
