Dozens of people were killed in a fire that broke out in the OXY Tower in the center of Brussels on Tuesday. Multiple media outlets reported the incident, referencing the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office, though the exact number of fatalities remains unclear. The search for six missing persons is ongoing. Eyewitnesses suspect they may be trapped in another elevator that firefighters have not yet been able to access.
The blaze initially started on Tuesday morning on the second floor of the building. The flames spread to the elevator shaft, leading to a fire inside the lift itself. This fire has since been brought under control. Two individuals with burn injuries were transported to a military hospital, while a firefighter who suffered a heatstroke was treated at the scene.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Workers from the OXY building construction site, who were evacuated, were cared for in the cafeteria of Brussels’ administrative center. According to a spokesperson for the Brussels Fire Department, psychological support is available there through the Red Cross. In addition to the building’s internal emergency plan, a medical response plan and a psychosociological support plan were also implemented.
