No victims found after Wilhelmina Tower collapses in Valkenburg
The Wilhelmina Tower in Valkenburg, near the Belgian border, collapsed on Sunday morning. Search teams feared casualties after detection dogs signalled a presence under the rubble, but only clothing was found. The cause of the collapse remains unknown.
The 30m tower, a well-known landmark in the Dutch province of Limburg, suddenly collapsed on Sunday. The observation platform, which offered panoramic views of Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, was reduced to rubble.
Although no people were reported missing, search teams were deployed after two independent detection dogs signalled a potential find under the debris. Emergency crews, including specialists from Germany, combed through the wreckage but uncovered only clothing.
Vibrations recorded
“The German team that searched the deeper layers, also using cameras, found only clothes,” said Valkenburg mayor Daan Prevoo. “The final conclusion is that there are no victims.”
The Dutch meteorological institute KNMI reported that its seismometers detected vibrations near Valkenburg at 5:31.
“These signals were recorded on multiple stations in the area, with the clearest readings near Valkenburg. It is unlikely that an earthquake occurred, but further investigation is needed to determine any connection to the collapse,” the agency said.
"The final conclusion is that there are no victims"
The Wilhelmina Tower, on the Heunsberg hill, was a popular attraction offering views of the surrounding landscape. Tourists could reach the site via a cable car from Valkenburg’s town centre.
The cause of the collapse is still under investigation.
Firefighters at the site of the collapsed Wilhelmina observation tower in Valkenburg © PHOTO MARCEL VAN HOORN / ANP / AFP
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