Fire at Brussels Oxy Tower Kills Six; Brecht Speybrouck Details Recovery Efforts at Construction Site.
Six workers died in a fire at a construction site in Brussels, according to local authorities. The victims' bodies were recovered from an elevator lift shaft at the Oxy Tower. The exact cause of the blaze remains undetermined. Emergency crews labored for hours to extract victims trapped inside the elevator shafts. During the operation, Brecht Speybrouck, a spokesperson for the local labour inspection service, confirmed the recovery of six bodies from the first lift car. Officials noted that efforts to access a second lift were made, but no additional victims were found. Philippe Close, the mayor of Brussels, characterized the incident as a significant local event. The Oxy building, located in a downtown pedestrian area, is undergoing major redevelopment intended to house offices, restaurants, and residences. Firefighters contained the initial fire, which authorities believe spread into the lift shafts, causing the fatal entrapment. Forensic experts and police are working to identify the deceased workers, whose nationality has not been fully confirmed. Authorities are treating the ongoing investigation with caution while maintaining order following the accident.