Multiple dead as horror fire devours huge apartment building - rescuers at scene

A major fire raged at a huge apartment building in Linkeroever, an area of the Belgian city of Antwerp. Multiple people have been confirmed dead by officials already, with the blaze prompting a huge rescue operation. Some 200 people have been evacuated from the building. The local fire department said, at the height of the emergency, they did "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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At least five people have died and several others were injured in a fire that broke out in a 10-storey building in Antwerp, Belgium. 

Thick, black smoke could be seen from miles billowing above the huge apartment block in the Linkeroever district on Wednesday morning.

Police said more than 200 people live in the block and the fire department evacuated 80 flats in the building.

Earlier today, police said six people had died - but the number was later revised to five. 

This afternoon, the Antwerp fire service said the fire had been put out. The cause of the blaze is not yet known. 

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Rescuers were seen lowering residents from the side of the building using rope.

Linkeroever, where the fire broke out, is located on the western side of Antwerp, across the Scheldt River.

It is a spacious residential district characterized by high-rise apartment buildings, expansive green spaces, and a large park that hosts outdoor music concerts during the summer.  

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Geert Dewulf, who lives on the tenth floor, told Belgian broadcaster VRTNWS: "First the electricity went out, three minutes later we got a fire alarm.

"By then, there was already smoke in the hallways.

"We tried to get down on our own, but we couldn't manage it anymore.

"We barricaded ourselves in our apartment and waited on the terrace.

"About 10 minutes later, the fire department came to rescue us from the terrace with their fire ladder."

There are now at least six deaths, according to Reuters but the exact death toll has not yet been officially released.

"My thoughts are with the victims and the evacuated residents of the terrible fire on Linkeroever.

"My deepest appreciation goes out to the emergency services who are trying to help the many affected as quickly and safely as possible, and who are working hard to contain the fire."

Mijn gedachten zijn bij de slachtoffers en de ge\u00ebvacueerde bewoners van de vreselijke brand op Linkeroever. Mijn diepe waardering gaat uit naar de nooddiensten die de vele getroffenen zo snel en veilig mogelijk trachten te helpen, en die hard werken om de brand te bedwingen.

Antwerp fire brigade spokesperson Marie de Clercq said the blaze was particularly challenging to tackle, with poor visibility and thick smoke throughout the building hampering firefighting efforts.  

A person on the ninth floor has been rescued by the fire department.

Police said it was too early to identify the cause of the fire although witnesses told De Standaard newspaper that work was being carried out on the roof.

Resident Geert Dewulf told VRT how thick smoke had stopped him getting out of his flat: "We barricaded ourselves into our flat and waited on the balcony. The fire brigade came to rescue us from the balcony 10 minutes or so later with their ladder."

Everyone has now been evacuated from the apartment block.

This includes 60 other people living in the adjacent building. 

Firefighters have been spotted dousing the thick flames.

More than 10 fire engines are at the scene and the Antwerp Fire Department is receiving assistance from various departments.

At least five people killed, but the exact death toll has not yet been officially released.

Multiple have also been seriously injured.

"We ⁠ask local residents affected by the smoke ​to close windows and ​doors ⁠and, if necessary, switch off ventilation," Antwerp Police said.

The fire has erupted at a huge apartment building in Antwerp. 

Evacuated but unharmed residents are being housed at a nearby reception centre, where psychosocial support is available.

“The priority now is the victims,” Antwerp police said.  

Live images show the apartment block has turned black due to the massive fire.

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

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

"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." 

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.  

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

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.

Several ​people have been killed in the apartment fire, local police said ⁠on their website.

My name is Lauran O'Toole and welcome to our live coverage.

A massive fire is raging in an apartment block ​in the Belgian city ​of Antwerp.

We will provide you with live updates as and when we receive them.