Belgian authorities have discovered a number of charred bodies in an elevator at a building undergoing renovation in Brussels following a fire that erupted early Tuesday.
The blaze started on the second floor of the structure in a busy shopping district and spread into a lift shaft, according to Brecht Speybrouck, a spokesperson for the Labor Audit Office. Approximately 250 workers at the construction site were evacuated. Two individuals were hospitalized with severe burns, and six people remained unaccounted for.
First responders faced challenges reaching the elevator shaft. Brussels Mayor Philippe Close stated that thermal cameras and sniffer dogs were deployed in the search for victims. He commended the immediate and coordinated response of firefighters, rescue workers, and police, suggesting their swift action helped prevent a larger tragedy.
King Philippe of Belgium visited the site several hours after the incident. Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin expressed shock and offered condolences to the victims and their families, while thanking emergency services for their efforts.