Six missing after Brussels building fire, charred bodies found in lift

A fire at a building under renovation in downtown Brussels has left six people missing and charred bodies have been found in an elevator shaft, authorities said Tuesday.

What happened

The fire broke out on the second floor of the Oxy tower (also described as a building being renovated) and spread into the lift shaft Source: AP News. 250 workers were evacuated, two were taken to hospital with severe burns Source: BBC. When firefighters entered, they found the fire had spread to the lift shafts where two lifts were stuck. They pried one open and discovered "several victims" Source: BBC. AP News reports that "charred bodies were found in one of the elevators" but did not specify the number Source: AP News.

Response and uncertainty

Rescue workers used thermal cameras and sniffer dogs to search for victims Source: AP News. Brecht Speybrouck, spokesperson for the Brussels Labour Prosecutor's Office (or Labor Audit Office in AP), said that the bodies could be the six missing, but there could be more in the other lift Source: BBC. Belgian authorities have not yet confirmed the exact number of casualties. King Philippe of Belgium toured the site several hours later, according to AP, while BBC reported he was expected. Prime Minister Bart De Wever also arrived Source: BBC.

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