Several killed as fire tears through apartment in Belgium's Antwerp
The blaze quickly prompted a large-scale emergency response, with several fire brigades from different districts rushing to the scene to contain the flames and assist in rescue operations.
Several people were killed, and many others injured after a massive fire broke out in a 10-storey apartment building in the Belgian city of Antwerp on Wednesday morning, local police said.
According to authorities, the local fire department received an emergency call at 9:53 am local time reporting a 'raging fire' on the eighth floor of the residential building in Antwerp's Linkeroever district.
The blaze quickly prompted a large-scale emergency response, with several fire brigades from different districts rushing to the scene to contain the flames and assist in rescue operations.
Police said the building, which housed more than 200 residents, was evacuated as firefighters battled the fire. While confirming that several people had died, authorities have not yet disclosed the exact death toll. They added that multiple people also sustained injuries in the incident.
Officials issued a public advisory asking residents living near the affected building to keep their windows and doors shut because of heavy smoke. "We ask local residents affected by the smoke to close windows and doors and, if necessary, switch off ventilation," police said in a statement.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and an investigation is expected to be launched once emergency operations are completed.
Authorities are continuing search, rescue and assessment efforts at the site as more information is awaited on the casualties and the extent of the damage.
Several people were killed, and many others injured after a massive fire broke out in a 10-storey apartment building in the Belgian city of Antwerp on Wednesday morning, local police said.
According to authorities, the local fire department received an emergency call at 9:53 am local time reporting a 'raging fire' on the eighth floor of the residential building in Antwerp's Linkeroever district.
The blaze quickly prompted a large-scale emergency response, with several fire brigades from different districts rushing to the scene to contain the flames and assist in rescue operations.
Police said the building, which housed more than 200 residents, was evacuated as firefighters battled the fire. While confirming that several people had died, authorities have not yet disclosed the exact death toll. They added that multiple people also sustained injuries in the incident.
Officials issued a public advisory asking residents living near the affected building to keep their windows and doors shut because of heavy smoke. "We ask local residents affected by the smoke to close windows and doors and, if necessary, switch off ventilation," police said in a statement.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and an investigation is expected to be launched once emergency operations are completed.
Authorities are continuing search, rescue and assessment efforts at the site as more information is awaited on the casualties and the extent of the damage.
