ANTWERP — Families gathered in Antwerp on Friday to mourn relatives killed in a devastating apartment building fire that claimed at least six lives earlier this month, as Belgian authorities continued investigating the cause of the blaze and supporting residents displaced by the disaster.
The fire tore through a 10-storey apartment block in the Linkeroever district on July 1, forcing the evacuation of around 200 residents from approximately 80 apartments. Belgian authorities said the victims included residents who were unable to escape as smoke rapidly spread through the building.
Local officials said mourning ceremonies and private funerals were taking place in the days following the tragedy, while psychological support and temporary accommodation remained available for survivors and bereaved families. The apartment block sustained extensive damage, leaving many residents unable to return to their homes.
Emergency responders carried out difficult rescue operations as thick smoke engulfed the upper floors. Firefighters used ladders, ropes and aerial equipment to evacuate trapped residents from balconies, while medical teams treated numerous people for injuries and smoke inhalation. Authorities activated emergency response plans to manage casualties and shelter displaced residents.
Police have said preliminary findings indicate the fire may have originated from a technical failure on the ground floor of the building, but investigators have not released final conclusions. Officials cautioned that the investigation remains ongoing and that the precise sequence of events has yet to be established.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever expressed condolences to the victims' families shortly after the fire, describing it as a terrible tragedy and thanking firefighters, police officers and medical personnel for their response. King Philippe also visited the scene to meet residents and emergency workers in the aftermath of the disaster.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as smoke filled stairwells and corridors, preventing some occupants from leaving without assistance. Several survivors said they waited on balconies until firefighters reached them with ladder trucks or rescue equipment.
Municipal authorities said assistance for displaced residents would continue while engineers assess the structural condition of the building and investigators complete their examination of the fire. Officials have not announced when residents whose apartments were not destroyed may be able to return.
