A Dead and Some Injured by The Hague Blast

A person has lost his life and three others have been injured by the collapse of a palace following an explosion in the Netherlands, The Hague mayor has said.

It was not clear how many people may be missing after the disaster in Mariahoes, Jan van Zaen said.

Residents said they heard a loud noise and scream before dawn, and a woman told local media she thought there was an earthquake, SkyNews reports.

Part of an apartment complex has collapsed and is involved in fire.

Four people were rescued from the ruins and taken to the hospital, officials said, adding that there may still be other people blocked.

A person told NOS broadcaster that they heard a child calling for help as the building burned.

The scenes showed that one area, which includes five apartments, had become ashes and ruins.

Dutch authorities have put on the scene a specialised urban search-saving team, along with four dogs trained to find victims.

The cause of the disaster is unclear, but the police said they are looking for a car that is seen leaving the scene.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schooff said he was shocked by the images of the disaster and had offered assistance to local authorities.