Fire in Brussels Under Construction Building Kills Multiple People

Kathmandu. Local authorities have said that several people have died in a fire in an under-construction building in the center of Brussels, the capital of Belgium, on Tuesday. The cause of the fire in the 'Oxy Tower' located in the center of the city is not yet known. 

According to officials, at least 6 people are still missing in the incident. Although the fire was brought under control quickly, firefighters found that the fire had spread to the lift shaft when they entered the building, where two lifts were stuck.

Firefighters forcibly opened the door of one lift and found several bodies there, but the exact number of deceased is not yet known, informed Brecht Speybrouck, spokesperson for the Brussels labor prosecutor's office. According to spokesperson Speybrouck, the bodies found could be those of the 6 missing people, but there is a possibility of more people in the other lift or other parts of the building. 

He said that his team is preparing to remove the bodies from the lift and if those bodies are not of the 6 missing people, then they will have to search in the other lift as well. He added that the rescue operation is very difficult due to the accumulated debris inside the building and it will take a few more hours to remove the bodies.

After the incident, Brussels Mayor Philippe Close expressed his gratitude to the emergency rescue team for their excellent work even in extremely difficult circumstances. According to Belgian media RTBF, Prime Minister Bart De Wever and King Philippe of Belgium visited the scene in the afternoon.

According to local media, two people who were severely burned in the fire were taken to the hospital, while a firefighter who was exposed to high temperatures was treated at the scene. The Oxy Tower, where the fire broke out, is currently under construction, with plans to operate flats, hotels, restaurants, and bars in the future.