Several people were killed and many others were injured after a fire tore through a high-rise apartment building in the Belgian city of Antwerp on Wednesday, police told news agency Reuters.
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The fire started late in the morning on the eighth floor of the residential block in the Linkeroever district, where more than 200 people live. Thick smoke billowed from the building as emergency services rushed to the scene.
Authorities began evacuating the 10-storey building while asking nearby residents to keep their windows and doors shut and switch off ventilation systems if necessary because of the heavy smoke.
Police said firefighters were working in challenging conditions due to the scale and intensity of the blaze. Several emergency response teams, police personnel and a specialised drone unit were deployed to assist in the operation. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
Officials also activated a medical emergency plan to ensure nearby hospitals were not overwhelmed by the number of casualties.
An Associated Press photographer at the scene reported that the smoke had largely cleared by early afternoon, although emergency personnel continued to remain at the site.
Television footage showed a man trapped on an upper floor leaning over a balcony to escape the smoke and breathe fresh air before moving towards a nearby window.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, who previously served as Antwerp's mayor, expressed sympathy for those affected.
“thoughts are with the victims and the evacuated residents of the terrible fire on Linkeroever.”
“My deep appreciation goes out to the emergency services who are striving to help the many affected people as quickly and safely as possible, and who are working hard to bring the fire under control,” he said.
Linkeroever, located on the western bank of the River Scheldt in Antwerp, is a densely populated residential area known for its high-rise apartment buildings. The neighbourhood also borders a large public park that hosts outdoor music concerts during the summer.
