Multiple Deaths, Six Missing in Brussels Building Fire

Multiple fatalities and six disappearances have been confirmed following a fire that erupted in a building undergoing renovation in central Brussels. The blaze, which began early Tuesday, trapped several individuals in an elevator shaft, according to the Belgian Labor Prosecutor's Office.

Rescue teams are continuing their search for the missing people, who may be located within the elevator. "Firefighters managed to find a small opening in one of these elevators and there we discovered several victims. We do not yet know exactly how many people there are. It could be the six missing people, but there could also be more in another elevator or elsewhere," stated Brecht Speybrouck, a spokesperson for the Prosecutor's Office.

The fire's origins remain undetermined. It reportedly started as a small ignition on the building's second floor. Although extinguished, the flames spread through the elevator shaft, compromising its structure. Two individuals with burns were transported to the Military Hospital, and a firefighter suffering from heat exhaustion received on-site treatment.

Over 200 workers were present in the building at the time of the incident. The structure is being converted into a complex that will include restaurants, offices, a hotel, and luxury apartments.

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Firefighters managed to find a small opening in one of these elevators and there we discovered several victims. We do not yet know exactly how many people there are. It could be the six missing people, but there could also be more in another elevator or elsewhere