Fire in Belgian apartment block leaves at least 6 people dead, many injured

At least six people were killed and many others were injured after a fire tore through a 10-story apartment block in Antwerp, Belgium, on Wednesday, according to officials and local reporting.

The blaze broke out in the Linkeroever district, where police said the fire started on the ground floor because of a technical failure before spreading through the building. More than 200 people live in the block, which contains 80 apartments.

Emergency services evacuated the building and continued searching it after the fire broke out. Firefighters and police were sent to the scene, including a specialized drone unit.

Nearby residents were told to keep windows and doors closed because of heavy smoke, and to turn off ventilators if needed. A medical emergency plan was also activated to help manage pressure on hospitals.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever expressed condolences and praised the emergency responders.

Fire and evacuation

Police said the emergency call came in after a raging fire was reported at the building. The fire spread quickly enough to require a large response, and officials continued operations well into the afternoon.

Residents were taken to local shelters or a reception center, according to reporting. The evacuation and smoke precautions affected the wider neighborhood as crews worked to secure the area.

What is still unknown

Officials had not yet given a final casualty count beyond at least six deaths, and it remained unclear how many of the injured were hospitalized.

Investigators were also still working to determine the exact technical failure that started the blaze and to confirm whether all residents had been accounted for after the evacuation.