Six dead in Brussels construction site fire after elevator collapses, authorities confirm

Fire at the Oxy Tower site

Place de Brouckere in central Brussels was cordoned off on Tuesday after a fire erupted at the Oxy Tower, a 1970s office building being converted into 260 apartments, hotel rooms and offices. Around 250 construction workers were on the site when the blaze broke out on the second floor around early morning. Although the flames were quickly contained, burning debris dropped through two elevator shafts and sparked a second fire in the basement. All personnel were evacuated and taken to a nearby facility while firefighters worked to secure the building.

Chronology of the disaster

Two workers suffered severe burns and were rushed to the military hospital in Neder-over-Hembeek. A firefighter was treated on site for hyperthermia. Hours after the evacuation, six workers remained unaccounted for. "We could not contact them. We think they are still inside the building," the labour prosecutor's office said around 14:30. Firefighters eventually located the missing men inside a collapsed elevator cabin that had plummeted into the basement, but accessing the shaft was difficult and dangerous. By late afternoon, the grim discovery was confirmed.

The toll is exceptionally heavy. In most workplace accidents, one or two workers are involved. But here, it is eight people: six victims and two seriously burned.

Search and rescue efforts

Emergency teams, including sniffer dogs, thermal cameras and a Disaster Victim Identification unit, worked throughout the day. Brussels mayor Philippe Close praised the coordinated response. "Firefighters, rescue workers and police were there immediately. Everyone knew what they had to do and that probably helped to avoid a greater tragedy," he said.

High-level visit and condolences

Late in the afternoon, King Philippe of Belgium and Prime Minister Bart De Wever arrived at the scene. They thanked the rescue services and expressed sympathy for the victims and their families. Interior Minister Bernard Quintin posted on social media: "My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones and everyone still in uncertainty. A sincere thank you to our fire department and all emergency services."

Investigation into safety compliance

The Brussels labour prosecutor, responsible for workplace and social security violations, has opened an investigation. An expert has been appointed to probe the cause of the fire and to determine whether occupational safety rules were breached. "Were risk analyses carried out? Did the workers have the right equipment and the right tools?" Spybrouck told reporters. He added that initial checks indicated the workers were properly declared, ruling out informal employment as a likely factor. The Oxy Tower site had already been hit by another fire in 2024, according to Belgian media.