Several dead and missing in a fire in the heart of Brussels

A fire that broke out in a building undergoing renovation in the heart of Brussels has claimed several lives, with at least six people still missing. The victims are believed to have been trapped in one of the building's elevators near the well-known Brouckère square.

The blaze ignited early in the morning in the OXY building, a former administrative center, under circumstances that remain unknown. Initial reports suggest the fire began small on the second floor and was initially contained. However, flames subsequently spread through the elevator shaft, triggering a larger fire that was eventually brought under control.

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The firefighters managed to find a small opening in one of those elevators and there we discovered several victims.

Rescue teams are currently focused on finding the six individuals who are unaccounted for. Official sources cited by the newspaper Le Soir indicated that there is concern that more people may be trapped in another elevator that firefighters have not yet been able to access. Brecht Speybrouck, a spokesperson for the Brussels Labor Prosecutor's Office, confirmed the discovery of victims in an elevator, stating, "The firefighters managed to find a small opening in one of those elevators and there we discovered several victims." He added that the exact number is still uncertain, with the possibility of more people in the other elevator or elsewhere.

Two individuals were transported to a military hospital with burns, and a firefighter received on-site treatment for heatstroke. The building was in the process of being converted into apartments and commercial spaces, meaning numerous construction workers were present. Most were evacuated before the fire intensified and spread via the elevators.

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We still do not know exactly how many people it is. Perhaps there are six missing, but it is also possible that there are more people in the other elevator or somewhere else.