A devastating blaze in Antwerp's old quarter has claimed at least five lives, plunging Belgian emergency services into a crisis of confidence. The fire, which broke out in a densely packed residential block near the Grote Markt, spread rapidly through narrow streets, trapping residents. Sources on the ground say the death toll could rise as search teams sift through the rubble.
But it is not just the flames that are under scrutiny. The response time of Antwerp's fire brigade has drawn sharp criticism. Local reports suggest that the first engine arrived twenty minutes after the initial call, a delay that may have cost lives. The city's mayor, Bart De Wever, was visibly shaken as he addressed the press. "We are investigating the timeline. Every minute matters," he said, his voice taut.
Belgian politics is a fractious game. The fire has reignited a long-simmering row over emergency service funding. Flanders and Wallonia have been at loggerheads for years over resource allocation. The federal interior minister has called for an urgent review. Backbench MPs from the opposition Greens are demanding a parliamentary inquiry, scenting blood.
Inside the Westminster bubble, we know exactly how this plays: blame shifting, leaky briefings, and a prime minister looking for a scapegoat. Belgium's coalition government is fragile at the best of times. This tragedy could be the crack that widens the fault line.
I am hearing from contacts in Brussels that the EU crisis management committee has offered technical assistance. But for now, Antwerp grieves. The smell of smoke hangs over the city. And the question that will not go away: could more have been done?
