A fire erupted Tuesday at a building undergoing renovation in the heart of Brussels, Belgium, sending two workers to the hospital with serious burns and leaving six others missing. Officials confirmed that charred remains were discovered inside an elevator at the scene.
According to Brecht Speybrouck, a spokesman for the Labor Audit Office, the blaze began on the second floor of the structure, which is located in a major shopping district. The flames then traveled up into a lift shaft. Speybrouck said approximately 250 workers were evacuated from the building before the fire was brought under control.
Two of those workers sustained severe burns and were transported to a hospital, while six remained unaccounted for. Speybrouck confirmed that burned bodies were found inside one of the elevators, though he declined to specify how many and could not confirm whether those victims were among the six reported missing.
Emergency crews faced significant challenges reaching the elevator shaft. Brussels Mayor Philippe Close told The Associated Press that thermal imaging cameras and trained sniffer dogs were deployed to help locate victims.
Mayor Close credited the rapid response of emergency personnel, saying “firefighters, rescue workers and police were there immediately. Everyone knew what they had to do and that probably helped to avoid a greater tragedy.”
Belgium’s King Philippe visited the site several hours after the fire broke out.
Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin expressed his distress over the incident, saying he was “shocked” by what had happened. In a social media post, Quintin added: “My thoughts go out to the victims, their loved ones, and everyone still in uncertainty. A sincere thank you to our fire department and all emergency services for their dedication.”
