As a result of a large fire that broke out in a ten-story residential building in the Belgian city of Antwerp, at least five people were killed and several others were injured in various degrees. This is reported by "BBC News", referring to the local police.
The fire broke out on Wednesday, at approximately 10:00 local time, on the eighth floor of an apartment building in the Linkerover district.
Eyewitnesses filmed thick clouds of black smoke rising above the building. In the footage spread on the Internet, it can be seen how one of the residents, escaping from the fire and smoke, passes through the window of his own balcony to the neighboring apartment.
According to the police, more than 200 people live in the building. The bodies of several victims have already been found at the scene. According to Kim Bastiens, the official representative of the police, the fire "left serious consequences" for the residents of Linkerover. He also informed that some of the victims received serious injuries, while the injuries of others were lighter.
Gert DeWulf, a resident of the building, said that he could not leave the apartment on his own due to the thick smoke.
"We barricaded ourselves in the apartment and went out to the balcony. About ten minutes later, the firemen climbed the ladder to us and evacuated us," he told the Belgian TV channel.
Firefighters said that they continue to go around the apartments to find other possible victims. According to them, the thick smoke quickly spread throughout the building, making the evacuation of residents significantly more difficult.
One of the evacuees said that his relatives, including the former mayor of Antwerp, Bob Coles, were successfully taken out of the building and taken to the hospital.
According to him, despite all the efforts made, it was not possible to save the pet cat.
The cause of the fire has not yet been officially confirmed. The police emphasized that the investigation is still in the initial stage. Nevertheless, several eyewitnesses told "De Standaard" newspaper that shortly before the fire, construction works were being carried out on the roof of the building.
Marie de Klerk, a representative of the Antwerp fire service, called the accident difficult, noting that the heavy smoke and extremely poor level of visibility made it much more difficult to fight the fire.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and expressed his support to all the residents of the building who had to leave their apartments after the "terrible fire" in Linkerover.
