A fire in an apartment block in Antwerp has killed five people, emergency services said on Thursday, marking one of the deadliest residential blazes in the Belgian city in recent years. The blaze broke out late on Wednesday in a four-storey building in the Borgerhout district, a densely populated area near the city centre. Firefighters battled the flames for several hours before bringing them under control.
Authorities confirmed that five people died and two others were injured, one critically. The cause of the fire is under investigation, though initial reports suggest it may have started in a ground-floor flat. The building, which housed multiple families, was not equipped with a sprinkler system.
Antwerp, a major port city and hub for EU institutions, has faced criticism over fire safety standards in older housing stock. The tragedy has reignited calls for stricter regulations and better enforcement of building codes. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo expressed condolences on social media, saying his thoughts were with the victims and their families.
The fire comes amid heightened scrutiny of residential safety across Europe following similar disasters in London and Paris in recent years.
