Several dead in Brussels construction site fire, 6 workers missing

Several Dead in Brussels Construction Site Fire, 6 Workers Still Missing

Several dead in Brussels construction site - A blaze at a central Brussels construction site on Tuesday claimed multiple lives, with emergency crews still combing through the wreckage to locate six missing workers, local officials reported through Reuters.

Trapped Bodies in Lift Shaft

Rescue teams uncovered an unspecified number of bodies inside one of two lift shafts at the ongoing renovation project on Place de Brouckere, according to a local labor inspection service spokesperson. The discovery was described as "gruesome," with limited access to the site allowing only partial visibility of the casualties.

"We had small access to one of the two elevator cabinets and there we had a view that there are some corpses of two or three people who died," said Brecht Speybrouck, the spokesperson, to Reuters.

Search for Missing Workers Continues

Speybrouck confirmed that six workers remain unlocated as the rescue operation extended into the afternoon. Efforts to reach the second lift shaft, where additional bodies may be trapped, are ongoing, with officials assessing the full extent of the disaster.

Evacuation and Casualties

The Brussels fire brigade stated that over 200 laborers were on-site when the fire broke out, prompting a large-scale evacuation. Three individuals were hospitalized, though their conditions have not been disclosed. The incident forced the temporary suspension of the renovation project.

Fire Spread to Underground Floor

Belgian broadcaster VRT reported that the initial flames on lower floors were quickly contained, but they later traveled through the lift shafts, igniting a new fire on an underground level. This development complicated rescue operations and delayed efforts to reach the trapped workers.

Investigation into Cause Ongoing

Authorities have not yet determined the origin of the fire at the Place de Brouckere site. Investigations are set to continue, focusing on how the blaze started and how it spread into the lift shafts, which were the primary location of casualties.

This incident is still under evaluation, with updates expected as more information becomes available from Brussels.