At least five people were killed and several others injured in a fire that broke out in a 10-story apartment block in Antwerp, Belgium, according to police. The blaze. Which started on the ground floor. Led to the evacuation of the building and significant smoke in the air, prompting local authorities to advise residents to keep windows and doors closed and, if needed, to turn off ventilators.

Emergency Response and Evacuation

Firefighters faced difficult conditions due to the size and intensity of the fire, and several teams of first responders and police were dispatched to the site, including a specialized drone unit, according to police. A medical emergency plan was activated to prevent nearby hospitals from being overwhelmed by victims. Television images showed one man on an upper floor enveloped in smoke, hanging over a balcony in an attempt to get fresh air before moving to a nearby window.

Antwerp police spokesperson Kim Bastiaens stated that forensic experts were scouring the site to determine the cause of the fire, though an Associated Press photographer at the scene noted that smoke had died down by early afternoon, though many first responders remained at the site.

Prime Minister’s Response

Belgium’s Prime Minister Bart De Wever. A former mayor of Antwerp. Expressed his thoughts with the victims and evacuated residents in a social media post; he also praised the emergency services for their efforts to assist those affected and bring the fire under control. “My deep appreciation goes out to the emergency services who are striving to help the many affected people as quickly and safely as possible,” he said.

Details on the Incident

According to police, the fire began mid-morning on the eighth floor of the building, which houses over 200 residents in the city’s Linkeroever neighborhood. The blaze sent vast plumes of smoke into the air, prompting an immediate evacuation of the 10-story structure. Bastiaens reiterated that the fire had started on the ground floor, contradicting earlier reports that it originated on the eighth floor.

Local authorities remained cautious, urging residents to remain indoors and avoid exposure to smoke. Firefighters continued their operations in the area as forensic teams worked to determine the cause of the fire. The incident has drawn significant attention, with related searches trending online under the phrase “fire kills five at Antwerp apartment block.”