Particle.news

Fire at OXY Tower in Brussels Kills Two and Leaves Several Workers Missing

Investigators opened a labour-prosecutor probe into possible safety failures, with protection civile teams still struggling to reach trapped workers inside elevator cages

Overview

  • The blaze started on the second floor of the OXY tower during morning work and spread through at least one elevator shaft, trapping workers inside cabins.
  • Firefighters reported the fire was brought under control by early afternoon, but access to the two elevator cages remained very difficult.
  • The Auditorat du travail confirmed a provisional death toll of two and said several workers remained unaccounted for as recovery operations continued.
  • Two burn victims were taken to Neder-over-Heembeek military hospital and a firefighter received on-site treatment for hyperthermia.
  • The labour-prosecutor has opened an inquiry into workplace safety at the large renovation site where elevator installation work was underway and more than 200 people had been present that morning.