Brussels firefighter killed, three injured in gas explosion

A gas leak and two explosions rocked the center of Brussels, resulting in the death of firefighter Sergeant-Major Olivier Francotte and serious injuries to three others. The incident stemmed from a breach of a medium-pressure pipe by a company working on fiber optic installation.

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Olivier's disappearance deeply shakes all Brussels firefighters and the wider fire service family. Our thoughts are primarily with his family, loved ones, and colleagues. We sincerely thank all those who have expressed their compassion, solidarity, and support. In these particularly painful hours, these signs of sympathy mean a great deal to us.

Walter Derieuw, spokesperson for the Brussels firefighters, conveyed the profound grief felt by the entire fire department. "Olivier's disappearance deeply shakes all Brussels firefighters and the wider fire service family," he stated. "Our thoughts are primarily with his family, loved ones, and colleagues. We sincerely thank all those who have expressed their compassion, solidarity, and support. In these particularly painful hours, these signs of sympathy mean a great deal to us."

Federal Interior Minister Bernard Quintin also visited the scene, expressing his sorrow. "It is with deep pain that I learned of the death of one of our Brussels firefighters," he said. "Faced with such a tragedy, words struggle to express our sadness. All my condolences to his family, his loved ones, and the wider fire service family. My thoughts also go to the victims and their families, who have my full support. Thank you to all the emergency services mobilized. Thank you to our firefighters for their daily courage and dedication."

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It is with deep pain that I learned of the death of one of our Brussels firefighters. Faced with such a tragedy, words struggle to express our sadness. All my condolences to his family, his loved ones, and the wider fire service family. My thoughts also go to the victims and their families, who have my full support. Thank you to all the emergency services mobilized. Thank you to our firefighters for their daily courage and dedication.

Brussels Mayor Philippe Close acknowledged the tragedy on Facebook, noting that a public servant lost his life while protecting others. "Today, a tragedy occurred in Brussels. A firefighter, a Brussels firefighter, a public service agent, lost his life protecting the lives of others, following an explosion caused by a gas leak due to work on Rue Treurenberg, in the heart of Brussels," he wrote. He also highlighted the significant deployment of resources to contain the accident and the evacuation of the approximately one hundred employees from the affected building.

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Today, a tragedy occurred in Brussels. A firefighter, a Brussels firefighter, a public service agent, lost his life protecting the lives of others, following an explosion caused by a gas leak due to work on Rue Treurenberg, in the heart of Brussels.