Historic Wilhelmina Tower in Valkenburg Collapses Without Casualties

The early morning collapse of the iconic Dutch landmark averted a potential tragedy, with investigations underway into the cause.

The 30-meter Wilhelmina Tower in Valkenburg, Netherlands, unexpectedly collapsed early Sunday morning at around 5:30 AM.
The tower, a popular tourist attraction built in 1906, was unoccupied at the time due to the early hour and its closure for planned maintenance work.
Search efforts involving drones and rescue dogs initially raised concerns about possible victims, but no people were found under the rubble.
The cause of the collapse remains unknown, though a seismic event was detected at the time of the incident by the Dutch meteorological institute (KNMI).
Local authorities have urged the public to avoid the site, warning against 'disaster tourism' as they continue to secure the area and investigate the event.