At least five dead, 130 injured in Dutch cafe fire on New Year's Eve

VOLENDAM, Netherlands (AP) _ A fire broke out in a cafe packed with New Year's revelers just after midnight, killing at least five people and injuring more than 130 others, Dutch television reported.

Monday, January 1st 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

VOLENDAM, Netherlands (AP) _ A fire broke out in a cafe packed with New Year's revelers just after midnight, killing at least five people and injuring more than 130 others, Dutch television reported.

The fire started early Monday in a three-story building in Volendam, a picturesque fishing village about 13 miles northeast of Amsterdam. Teen-aged party-goers jumped from the windows to escape the flames, reports said.

Dutch television showed amateur video images of firefighters attempting to resuscitate victims on the rooftops of nearby buildings while ambulances from across the country ferried dozens to emergency rooms.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known, but eyewitnesses said there was a large explosion, possibly from fireworks.

``It was a night of terror,'' said the Volendam mayor, identified only as F. IJsselmuiden, ``I saw someone die.''

About 700 people were reportedly in one of the three cafes located in the building in the Volendam harbor.