Four flats in the Brussels district of Neder-over-Heembeek are uninhabitable due to an explosion of two gas cylinders and a subsequent fire, reported the Brussels fire brigade on Saturday evening.
The fire brigade, the medical emergency services and the Brussels police responded in large numbers on Saturday afternoon to a call about an explosion and a fire on the fourth floor of a flat building in the Rue des Bons Enfants in Neder-over-Heembeek.
"The fire was quickly brought under control and there were no injuries," said fire brigade spokesperson Walter Derieuw. "The guardian angels did an exceptionally good job today."
"We immediately went to the scene with two command vehicles, four fire engines, two ladder trucks, a vehicle with heavy equipment for, among other things, shoring and relieving, two Mobile Emergency teams, five ambulances, a decontamination vehicle and the police," Derieuw said.
Gas cylinders
On site, it turned out that two gas cylinders had exploded on the terrace on the fourth floor of the building, where work was in progress.
"We were able to quickly stop the emergency plans and return to normal operations," Derieuw explained. "The fire was quickly brought under control and there were no injuries. Four flats in the building are uninhabitable. The window frame of a flat in the neighbouring building was also blown away by the force of the explosion."
The residents of the various flats are being cared for by their families, the police and the municipal services.
