Antwerp apartment fire kills five, forces evacuation of 200 residents
A fire tore through a 10-storey apartment block in Antwerp, killing at least five people and injuring many others. The disaster triggered a major emergency response as officials investigated the cause and warned nearby residents about heavy smoke.
At least five people were killed and many others were injured in a fire at an apartment block in the Belgian city of Antwerp on Wednesday, police said. The blaze led to the evacuation of the 10-storey building, which houses more than 200 people, as emergency teams worked to bring the fire under control.
Police spokesperson Kim Bastiaens told Belgian private broadcaster VTM, "Right now, unfortunately, at least 5 people have died in the fire. There are also a significant number of seriously injured people, as well as a number of lightly injured." A medical emergency plan was activated to ensure nearby hospitals were not overwhelmed, while residents in the area were asked to keep their windows and doors closed and, if needed, switch off ventilators because of the smoke.
Police said the blaze broke out mid-morning on the eighth floor of the building in Antwerp's Linkeroever neighbourhood, sending huge plumes of smoke into the air. Firefighters tackled the fire in difficult conditions because of its size and intensity. Several teams of first responders and police were sent to the site, including a specialised drone unit.
It was not immediately clear what caused the fire, but Bastiaens said it had started on the ground floor and that forensic experts were examining the site. An Associated Press photographer at the scene said the smoke had reduced by early afternoon, though many first responders remained there.
Television images from the scene showed a man on an upper floor surrounded by smoke and leaning over a balcony to get fresh air before making his way to a nearby window. Belgium Prime Minister Bart De Wever, a former mayor of Antwerp, said his "thoughts are with the victims and the evacuated residents of the terrible fire on Linkeroever".
He added, "My deep appreciation goes out to the emergency services who are striving to help the many affected people as quickly and safely as possible, and who are working hard to bring the fire under control." The fire in Linkeroever, a large residential area with high-rise apartment buildings, left at least five people dead, many injured and forced a large-scale emergency response.
With PTI Inputs