Fatal apartment fire in Antwerp sends residents fleeing smoke
Authorities said several people died and others were injured after a blaze broke out in a high-rise apartment block in Antwerp.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
Several people were killed and others were injured Wednesday when a fire broke out in an apartment building in Antwerp, Belgian authorities said. The blaze drew a large emergency response to a high-rise block that police said is home to more than 200 residents.
Police said the city fire service was alerted at 9:53 a.m. local time, or 07:53 GMT, to a severe fire on the eighth floor of a 10-storey residential building in the Linkeroever area of Antwerp. Al Jazeera and The Associated Press reported that multiple fire brigades, ambulances and emergency teams were sent to the scene.
Authorities said firefighters faced difficult conditions inside the building because of the scale of the fire and the smoke. The Brussels Times quoted Antwerp Fire Zone spokesperson Marie De Clercq as saying crews were working in poor visibility and heavy smoke, which made the operation harder.
Video from the scene, described by Al Jazeera and AP, showed a man on an upper floor surrounded by smoke and leaning over a balcony as he tried to reach fresh air. The footage showed him later moving toward a nearby window.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, who previously served as Antwerp’s mayor, responded on social media after the fire. De Wever said his thoughts were with the victims and residents forced from the building, and he thanked emergency crews for working to assist those affected and bring the fire under control.
Authorities did not provide further details in the initial reports on the identities of those killed or injured. Police also did not immediately announce a cause for the fire.
Linkeroever is a largely residential district of Antwerp with high-rise apartment blocks, according to Al Jazeera and AP. The area also borders a major park that hosts outdoor summer music events.
The fire comes after Belgium experienced several serious blazes in recent weeks, Al Jazeera reported. Emergency services in Antwerp continued their response Wednesday as officials assessed the damage and accounted for residents affected by the fire.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.