Brussels – A fire broke out this morning at 8 am at the construction site of the OXY building in Place De Brouckère, in the centre of Brussels. At present, there are five fatalities . This has been reported by local media. As reported by the Belga news agency, the fire started before 8 am on the first and second floors and was quickly brought under control. However, the flames reached the lift shaft, causing another fire that spread to the second basement level. This led to a violent blaze, which was brought under control at around 9 am.
“Two victims with severe burns were taken to the burns unit at the military hospital in Neder-Over-Heembeek,” said Brecht Speybrouck, auditor for the Brussels Labour Court, earlier today. “In addition, there has been a problem with two lift shafts, where the lifts are stuck. We have already managed to gain access to one of the two lifts. Access is very limited; we do not have a full view, but we have seen that, unfortunately, there are fatalities in that lift,” he explained. Subsequently, the civil protection team working at the scene of the fire managed to clear a path to the lift involved in the blaze and found five victims. “The coroner is at the scene. Now,” explained Valentina Marocchi, the Brussels labour prosecutor, “we will be identifying the people we have found to see if they are the same ones” who were reported missing. The death toll “stands at five, probably six,” she continued. At present, the search is focusing on the first lift. “We hope the death toll will not rise any further.” The deceased “are all victims of an accident at work,” she emphasised.
Meanwhile, King Philippe of Belgium and Prime Minister Bart De Wever visited the scene of the fire to assess the scale of the tragedy that occurred in the heart of the Belgian capital. The Commissioner for Equality, Crisis Preparedness and Management, Hajda Lahbib, expressed her condolences to the victims and the families affected by the fire. “My thoughts are with the victims and their families, affected by the fire at the Oxy Tower in the heart of Brussels. I offer my respect and gratitude to the frontline responders, firefighters, police officers, and medical staff. Your courage saves lives,” she wrote on X.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
