Dramatic video captured the moment a man clambered from his balcony through a neighbour's window to escape thick black smoke billowing from a 10-storey block of flats in Antwerp's Linkeroever district. The fire, which broke out just before 10am on Wednesday, has killed five people and injured about 16 others, according to Antwerp Mayor Els Van Doesburg, who described the day as 'a pitch-black day' for the city. None of the injured are believed to be in a life-threatening condition.
The blaze was caused by a technical problem on the ground floor of the building on August Vermeylenlaan, police said. Thick smoke spread quickly through the block, home to more than 200 people across 80 flats, making evacuation difficult. Firefighters went from flat to flat searching for victims. 'It has claimed a heavy toll here at Linkeroever,' police spokeswoman Kim Bastiaens told Belgian public TV, adding that people had suffered serious and minor injuries.
“Five killed, 16 injured in Antwerp flat fire; dramatic video shows man escaping via balcony.”
Resident Geert Dewulf described having to barricade himself and his family into their flat and wait on the balcony. 'The fire brigade came to rescue us from the balcony 10 minutes or so later with their ladder,' he told VRT. Another resident said his parents-in-law, one of them ex-mayor of Antwerp Bob Cools, were evacuated and taken to hospital, but added: 'We tried our utmost to save the cat but unfortunately in the end we were unable to.'
Antwerp fire brigade spokeswoman Marie de Clercq said poor visibility and thick smoke made the fire complex to extinguish. Fire crews eventually put out the blaze after searching all flats. Philippe, King of the Belgians, later travelled to Linkeroever to meet evacuated residents at a care centre and visit the scene. Prime Minister Bart De Wever said his thoughts were with the victims, and the Flemish parliament began its session with a minute's silence.