Brussels building fire kills six workers, leaves several injured

Six workers were found dead inside a blocked elevator after a fire broke out in a building under renovation in central Brussels on Tuesday morning Source: lavozar, hoydo. The fire, which started around 8 a.m. local time in the second floor of the OXY Tower (formerly a city hall building), was quickly extinguished but flames spread through the elevator shaft, trapping workers in at least two elevators Source: abces, infobae.

Rescue and casualties

Rescue teams located several bodies in one elevator after creating a small opening. "We found several victims. We don't know exactly how many there are. It could be the six missing people, but there could be more in another elevator or elsewhere," said Brecht Speybrouck, spokesperson for the Brussels Labour Prosecutor's Office Source: hoydo, euronewses. Later, authorities confirmed the recovery of six bodies from one elevator Source: lavozar. Two people were hospitalized with burns, and a firefighter was treated for hyperthermia Source: elmundoes.

Investigation and response

The cause of the fire remains under investigation Source: hoydos, elconfidencial. Over 200 workers were in the building at the time; most were evacuated before the fire spread Source: abces, elespanol. Brussels mayor Philippe Close thanked rescue teams for working under "particularly difficult circumstances" Source: lavozar. King Philippe of Belgium and Prime Minister Bart De Wever visited the scene and expressed condolences Source: lavozar, euronewses. A previous fire on the roof of the same building in April 2024 caused no injuries Source: euronewses.