Multiple casualties have been reported in an active fire incident at an apartment complex in the city of Antwerp, Belgium.
The fire erupted at August Vermeylenlaan in the Linkeroever area, where more than 200 individuals reside. The fire department has identified the blaze on the eighth floor of the building, leading to an ongoing evacuation process. Authorities have confirmed the loss of multiple lives due to the fire.
One of the residents, Geert Dewulf, shared his experience with Belgian public television, describing how thick smoke hindered his exit from the flat. Dewulf mentioned barricading themselves in the apartment and waiting on the balcony until rescue arrived with a ladder.
Efforts are underway to evacuate the ten-story building housing approximately 200 people. Local residents have been advised to keep windows and doors shut and switch off ventilators due to the heavy smoke in the vicinity.
Antwerp police have disclosed that numerous individuals have succumbed to the fire, and several others have sustained injuries in the tragic incident. The fire originated on the eighth floor of the building in the Linkeroever neighborhood, where a significant number of residents are affected according to the police statement.
