A fire in a 10-story apartment building in Antwerp, Belgium, killed several people and injured many others on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, according to police. The blaze broke out mid-morning on the eighth floor of the building in the Linkeroever neighborhood, which houses more than 200 residents.
Evacuation and Response
Police reported that an evacuation of the building was underway as firefighters battled the intense blaze. Local residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed and to turn off ventilators due to heavy smoke. Multiple teams of first responders and police, including a specialized drone unit, were dispatched to the scene.
A medical emergency plan was activated to prevent overwhelming nearby hospitals with victims. An Associated Press photographer noted that smoke had subsided by early afternoon, but many first responders remained on-site.
Witness Accounts and Official Reaction
Television images showed a man on an upper floor enveloped in smoke, hanging over a balcony to breathe before moving to a nearby window. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, a former Antwerp mayor, expressed his condolences on social media, saying, “My thoughts are with the victims and the evacuated residents of the terrible fire on Linkeroever.” He added, “My deep appreciation goes out to the emergency services who are striving to help the many affected people as quickly and safely as possible, and who are working hard to bring the fire under control.”
Cause and Context
The cause of the fire was not immediately determined. The Linkeroever neighborhood in eastern Antwerp is a large residential area with high-rise buildings, bordering a major park that hosts outdoor summer music concerts.
