In brief
A fire that ignited on the eighth floor of a 10‑storey apartment block in Antwerp’s Linkeroever district claimed five lives, leaving several injured. Firefighters struggled to evacuate residents amid thick smoke, but eventually contained the blaze. Belgian King Philippe and Prime Minister Bart De Wever visited the scene, offering condolences, while the local parliament observed a minute’s silence.
Fire Kills Five in Antwerp Apartment Block – Live Update
Five people have died and several others injured in a fire that broke out in a 10‑storey block of flats in Antwerp’s Linkeroever district.
A thick column of smoke was seen billowing from the eighth floor just before 10:00 GMT on Wednesday. Video footage captured a man jumping from his balcony through a neighbour's window to escape the fire.
More than 200 residents live in the building, with 80 flats evacuated by the fire service. The blaze was reportedly caused by a technical fault on the ground floor.
Police spokeswoman Kim Bastiaens said "It has claimed a heavy toll here at Linkeroever," and that casualties suffered serious and minor injuries. The official death toll was revised from six to five after the afternoon.
Belgian King Philippe visited the scene and met residents at a care centre. Residents reported being trapped in their flats with thick smoke, only rescued from the balcony by firefighters with a ladder after 10 minutes.
Firefighters went from flat to flat, battling thick smoke that made evacuation difficult. The city’s fire brigade faced visibility challenges, but ultimately contained the fire.
Prime Minister Bart De Wever sent his thoughts to victims, and the Flemish parliament observed a minute’s silence for the dead.
To view the live footage, follow the "Antwerp Fire" live streaming on our platform.
