Some 320 asylum seekers housed onboard a floating platform in Zaandam had to be evacuated in the early hours of Thursday when fire broke out in one of the rooms, Dutch media reported.
The cause of the fire, which was eventually doused by the shipβs sprinkler installation, has not yet been made public. However, according to NH Nieuws, it may have started in one of the rooms.
No one was injured in the fire but two security staff and two asylum seekers had to be treated for smoke inhalation. Most of the Borealisβ inhabitants were able to return to their rooms once the fire was put out.
Zaandam is expected to open two more floating asylum seekersβ centres with room for some 1,000 people although it is unclear when. The delays are reportedly to do with fire safety onboard, NH Nieuws said.
Markus Jansen 
Agnita Meijer