The lifeless body of a person was found on Wednesday in the rubble of a building destroyed by fire earlier this week in Wallonia. The information was confirmed on Thursday by the local mayor.
The identity of the victim is currently being confirmed by the Tournai-Mons Public Prosecutor's Office.
The violent fire broke out on Tuesday 27 May at around 11:15 on Rue de Sondeville in Péruwelz, in western Hainaut. The fire started in the building at number 42 before spreading to an adjoining apartment building at number 40. Both buildings were destroyed by the flames.
Initially, the Wallonia Picardy fire brigade and the Péruwelz municipal authorities reported that there were no casualties.
However, after the fire, authorities were informed that one person was missing, according to the mayor of Péruwelz, Jimmy Ababio. "Men from the Tournai Federal police forensic laboratory arrived on site on Wednesday afternoon to carry out checks. At number 42, they found the body of a person," he said.
The identity of the victim is currently unknown. "Tests will be carried out to determine whether it is the person who was reported missing or someone else," Ababio added.
