Local media reports say firefighters initially brought the blaze under control, but flames spread into a lift shaft, sparking a second fire and trapping people inside.
A fire at a construction site in central Brussels has killed several people and left others missing, according to Belgian authorities.
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The blaze broke out at the Oxy building on Place de Brouckère, a multifunctional complex that had been undergoing renovation.
Roughly 250 workers were on site, according to local media. Firefighters rescued a number of workers, but authorities believe six are still missing.
The blaze erupted in the morning and was seemingly quickly under control. However, the fire resulted in damage to two elevator shafts before reaching an underground section of the building, igniting a second fire and complicating rescue efforts.
As a result of the fire, a couple of lifts had gotten blocked. Firefighters managed to open one lift and found several bodies. It is still unclear whether additional missing people will be found in the other lift.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
In April 2024, another fire had broken on the roof of the building under construction but did not result in any injuries.