Antwerp fire LIVE: Multiple people dead as fire devours Linkeroever apartment building

2 days ago 7

Some 200 residents have been evacuated.

The fire in Antwerp

The fire erupted today in Antwerp (Image: X/Jerusalem post)

A major fire is raging at a huge apartment building in Linkeroever. Multiple people have been confirmed dead by officials already, as a huge emergency operation is underway.

Some 200 people have been evacuated from the building. The local fire deparment says they "do not know how many people are inside". Fire department spokeswoman Marie De Clercq said: "At 9.53am we were called out to a fire in an apartment building on Linkeroever.

"When our teams arrived, they already saw a thick plume of smoke. "It was clear that it was an intense fire. Firefighters are currently still working to get everyone out.

"We do not know how many people are inside or how many need to be brought out."

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1 min ago12:14 Lauran O'Toole

Belgium politician offers 'condolences to the victims and their families'

Tom Jozef Irène Van Grieken, a Belgian politician who has served as leader of Vlaams Belang since October 2014 has issued the following statement:

"Terrible, the disaster unfolding in Antwerp. My condolences to the victims and their families.

Wishing heaps of courage to the brave people of the emergency services and strength to all those involved."

Verschrikkelijk welke ramp zich voordoet in Antwerpen. Mijn medeleven aan de slachtoffers en hun families. Heel veel goede moed aan de dappere mensen van de hulpdiensten en sterkte aan alle betrokkenen gewenst. pic.twitter.com/8PdCFYmDYh

\u2014 Tom Van Grieken (@tomvangrieken) July 1, 2026

4 mins ago12:11 Lauran O'Toole

Fire department 'don't know how many people are inside'

The local fire deparment says they "do not know how many people are inside".

Fire department spokeswoman Marie De Clercq said:

"At 9.53am we were called out to a fire in an apartment building on Linkeroever.

"When our teams arrived, they already saw a thick plume of smoke.

It was clear that it was an intense fire. Firefighters are currently still working to get everyone out.

"We do not know how many people are inside or how many need to be brought out."

6 mins ago12:09 Lauran O'Toole

Medical Disaster Plan activated

The Medical Disaster Plan has been activated. In Belgium, the Medical Intervention Plan (MIP) is implemented when a major incident involving numerous casualties threatens to overwhelm the normal capacity of emergency services.

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8 mins ago12:07 Lauran O'Toole

Person seen hanging out of window

A person has been pictured leaning out of a window as thick black smoke billowed into the air.

Thick black smoke has filled the air

Thick black smoke has filled the air (Image: X/Jerusalem post)

13 mins ago12:02 Lauran O'Toole

Fire department called to 'raging fire

The local fire department received a call at 9.53 a.m. (7.53 GMT) about a "raging fire" in the eighth floor of a 10-floor apartment block in the Linkeroever area of Antwerp, police said.

18 mins ago11:57 Lauran O'Toole