Five dead as lorry hits Dutch supermarket

AT least five people were killed yesterday after a lorry slammed into a supermarket in the southern Netherlands and burst into flames.

The blaze prevented rescuers from approaching the cab or the building, where police said more victims may have been trapped. Part of a wall also collapsed, hindering rescue efforts.

The accident was in the town of Kerkrade on the German border, 140 miles south of Amsterdam.

Emergency teams from Germany rushed to help their Dutch counterparts at the scene.

"We believe at least five people were killed the three passengers and two people living above the supermarket," said police spokesman Peter Tans.

"The truck punched through the wall of the building and is stuck there."

Some shoppers may also have been killed, Mr Tans added. Efforts by rescuers to pull the remains of the vehicle out of the burning building were halted when its facade collapsed.

The vehicle's brakes had apparently failed at the top of a hill.

The driver reportedly sounded the horn and swerved to avoid a group of children before ramming the building at the bottom of the decline.