Collapse of Ixelles building: workman found dead under rubble

Collapse of Ixelles building: workman found dead under rubble
A workman was killed during a tragic building collapse in Ixelles yesterday (Monday).

The body of a workman was found under rubble at the end of yesterday (Monday). This occurred within a building that was under construction. This formerly housed the Quick fast food restaurant, which moved from Namur to Ixelles.

The building collapsed around 2.15 p.m. The incident was indicated sometime after 7 p.m. by the spokesman for the Brussels Fire Service, Pierre Meys, and the Mayor of Ixelles, Dominique Dufourny.

Pierre Meys stated that the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened a joint investigation, with the Crown Council attached to the employment tribunals.

For the moment, the building site has been sealed off. The security perimeter has been lifted.

The Mayor went to the site at the beginning of the afternoon.

She later said, “This is a tragedy for those close to the deceased, but also for the entire company.”

The Victim Assistance Office was on-site to accommodate colleagues and their loved ones, within the Boston Café. Amongst other buildings, the Vendôme cinema was evacuated.

It was the area behind the building, which was being demolished for renovation, that was affected.

The wall which collapsed extended over several floors, starting with the third floor.

The company, with responsibility for the building site, De Meuter, was involved in clearing the rubble so that a search could be conducted using a sniffer dog. Fireman went into action on the site.

The police established a large security perimeter, blocking the traffic from the top of the Chaussée d'Ixelles up to the Chaussée de Wavre.

A structural engineer checked the stability of the neighbouring Exki restaurant.

That building suffered some external damage, as did the Vendôme cinema close by. A further inspection of the building in question was due to be made this morning (Tuesday).

The operation of STIB buses was affected at the top of the Porte de Namur during the incident.


The Brussels Times


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