Six people died on Tuesday, July 14, in Brussels as a result of a fire that broke out in a residential building being renovated where more than 200 workers were working, local authorities said.
Several workers were trapped in an elevator as the disaster, the origin of which is still unknown, spread through the elevator shaft of the Oxy Tower building in the city center.
Total “We found six bodies”A spokesman for Brussels Mayor Philippe Close told AFP early in the evening. The six bodies found have yet to be identified and the families have been informed. A forensic expert was sent to the scene.
Earlier in the afternoon, the Labor Control Service, which is in charge of the investigation, said two bodies had been found but stressed that a total of six workers were missing.“The searches in the building continue, but a priori there are no other victims”– said the mayor’s representative. “We’re going to check the second elevator, hopefully there’s no one there.”– said Valentina Marocchi, a representative of the Labor Audit, a division of the prosecutor’s office responsible for compliance with labor laws.
King Philip and the Prime Minister on site
Firefighters were called just before 8:00 a.m. (0600 GMT) on Tuesday to a fire that broke out on the 2nd floor of the Oxy Tower in the pedestrian area of central Brussels. The fire spread to the first floor as well as the second basement through at least one elevator shaft, a fire official contacted by AFP said. In the morning, two people with serious burns were taken to the hospital.
According to the same source, an emergency plan was activated and firefighters were able to quickly contain the fire on the upper floors. But then the civil guard had to be called in as reinforcements for a search operation in the elevator, access to which was very difficult.
This was stated by Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quentin. “terrified” on drama. “My heartfelt thoughts go out to the victims, their loved ones and those still waiting.”“he wrote in the afternoon on the X network. King Philip and Prime Minister Bart De Wever visited the site at the end of the day.