Fire at waste processing plant on Belgium's Schoten-Wijnegem border requires ongoing efforts

Firefighters are continuing to battle a significant blaze at a waste processing facility located on the border of Schoten and Wijnegem, Belgium. The fire, which erupted earlier in the day, required the response of multiple fire departments from Zone Antwerpen and Zone Rand. While the fire was initially brought under control around 5 a.m., it reignited several times throughout the morning, indicating the challenging nature of the incident.

Crews are employing bulldozers to carefully move the burning waste material outside the facility. This allows for more effective and controlled extinguishing efforts. The process is expected to be lengthy, with extinguishing operations likely continuing for a considerable time.

The cause of the fire is currently unknown and under investigation. Thick smoke from the blaze drifted towards the center of Schoten, prompting local authorities to advise residents to keep their windows and doors closed as a precautionary measure.