VOLENDAM (BNO NEWS) — A large fire destroyed several shops in the harbor of the Dutch touristic town of Volendam on Thursday morning, not far from the capital of Amsterdam, authorities said.

The fire broke out just after 10.30 a.m. local time at a Shawarma shop in the harbor before it spread to a souvenir shop and fish shop. Officials quickly declared a major emergency after several explosions were heard, most likely from gas cylinders in one of the businesses.

A police spokeswoman said smoke from the fire caused the fire alarm at neighboring Hotel Spaander to go off, prompting an evacuation of the building. The fire, however, did not spread to the hotel.

The spokeswoman said nearby businesses were evacuated because of the fire. “A lot of people from Volendam have come out to watch the fire, so that’s why the police is there,” she said.

No injuries were reported.

On January 1, 2001, fourteen people were killed and 180 others were injured when a major fire broke out at a cafe in the harbor of Volendam. It was one of the deadliest tragedies in recent Dutch history.