In brief
A fire in a 10‑storey apartment block in Antwerp’s Linkeroever district killed five people and injured others, prompting an emergency evacuation of 80 flats. Thick smoke made rescue work difficult, and police point to a technical fault on the ground floor as the cause. The incident was captured on video, showing a man escaping from a balcony through a neighbour’s window. The King and Prime Minister visited the scene, while a Flemish parliament session held a minute’s silence for victims.
Five people were killed and several others injured when a fire broke out in a 10‑storey apartment block in Antwerp’s Linkeroever district early Wednesday.
Smoke billowed from the eighth floor shortly before 10:00 (08:00 GMT). Firefighters rescued about 80 flats, and more than 200 residents inside the building were evacuated.
Video footage shows a man escaping from his balcony through a neighbouring window to escape the black smoke.
Police say the blaze was caused by a technical fault on the ground floor, and that thick smoke made evacuation difficult.
King Philippe and Prime Minister Bart De Wever visited the site, while a Flemish parliament session began with a minute’s silence for the victims.
