At least six people have died in a major fire at a ten-storey apartment block in the Antwerp district of Linkeroever, confirmed the police. The search for any further victims is still ongoing.
Shortly before 10:00 on Wednesday morning, a fire broke out in a 10-storey block of flats on August Vermeylenlaan in Antwerp.
"It is a heavy toll," police spokesperson Kim Bastiaens told VRT. Around 13:00, she confirmed that at least five people had died. One hour later, police confirmed a sixth deadly victim.
The fire started on the ground floor, not on one of the upper floors as was previously assumed, she said. The plume of smoke can be seen from a great distance.
The fire is believed to have been caused by a technical fault on the ground floor, according to the Antwerp Fire Service. The public prosecutor’s office and the investigating judge have been appointed to look into the matter further.
"This is a very complex fire with poor visibility and heavy smoke inside the building. That makes it more difficult to extinguish," said Marie De Clercq of the fire service told Belga News Agency.
Medical intervention plan activated
More than 200 people live in the block of flats. The local authorities activated the medical intervention plan (MIP) to ensure that medical assistance runs smoothly. Evacuated residents who were not injured are being accommodated in the neighbourhood.
"Our crews have evacuated the building," De Clercq said. "At the moment, they are still working hard to extinguish the fire and are searching for other possible victims."
"It is a very large-scale fire service operation; at present, more than 10 fire engines are at work. We are receiving assistance from the Waasland Emergency Services Zone, the Rand Fire Service Zone and the Rivierenland Emergency Services Zone. Civil Protection is also on site," she said. The drone team of the Antwerp Fire Service is on the scene.
Smoke is still rising, according to the fire service. Residents in the neighbourhood are therefore still being advised to keep windows and doors closed and to switch off ventilation systems.
The fire service is asking people to avoid the area. A BE-alert has also been sent out, asking people to keep their windows and doors closed.
Around noon, Antwerp mayor Els van Doesburg (N-VA) arrived on the scene to take part in consultations with the emergency services at the temporary command centre set up in response to the fire, her spokesperson confirmed.
It is understood that Van Doesburg will not comment on the incident until after the consultations.
This story is developing.
