Romanian worker among six dead in Brussels construction site fire; second Romanian critically burned

How the fire unfolded

Flames broke out on the second floor of the OXY tower, a large residential building under renovation near Place De Brouckère and Rue Neuve, shortly before 08:00 local time on 14 July 2026. Firefighters extinguished that initial blaze relatively quickly, but the flames spread through the lift shafts and ignited a second fire in the basement. Over 200 workers were on site at the time. Six workers who were ascending in a lift became trapped inside the cabin; their bodies were recovered hours later after a complex operation.

In a few minutes we saw smoke. I shouted to people: 'Evacuate, evacuate! It's a fire!' Some people came out of the rooms on the left and right and everyone went in a different direction. The smoke was very dense.

Brecht Speybrouck, a labour protection inspector in Brussels, told the press that rescuers had not been able to extract those trapped by midday but had observed several bodies inside the cabin. He initially confirmed at least two, possibly three, fatalities. The final toll reached six dead and two seriously injured.

The Romanian victims

Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on 15 July that two Romanian citizens were among the casualties. The deceased man, aged around 40, held dual Romanian-Ukrainian citizenship and was originally from Chernivtsi. He was inside the lift when the fire spread. The second Romanian, a 20-year-old from Bacău county, was working elsewhere on the site when the flames propagated rapidly. He suffered burns on approximately 50% of his body and is hospitalised in a specialist unit in Brussels.

The injured Romanian citizen is hospitalised in a medical unit and is receiving all necessary specialist care, but his situation is serious.

The Romanian Embassy in Brussels is in permanent contact with Belgian authorities and the hospital, and is providing consular assistance to the families. Emergency contact numbers have been published for Romanian citizens affected.

Official reactions

President Nicușor Dan posted a message of solidarity on X, expressing condolences to the bereaved families and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. The Romanian Orthodox Church also issued a statement, offering prayers for the deceased and for the young man from Bacău, and expressing compassion for all those affected. Belgium's King and Prime Minister visited the site of the tragedy.

I was saddened to learn of the tragic fire that broke out in a building in central Brussels. Among the six workers who lost their lives is a Romanian citizen. Another young Romanian is hospitalised with serious injuries. My thoughts are with him and his family as he fights to recover.

The OXY project

OXY is the new name of the former Muntcentrum, a distinctive X-shaped office building constructed between 1967 and 1971 opposite La Monnaie opera house. Developer Immobel, in partnership with Whitewood, is leading a roughly 300 million euro conversion into a mixed-use complex designed by Norwegian firm Snøhetta and Belgium's Binst Architects. Plans include 120 apartments, 316 hotel rooms, nearly 44,000 square metres of office space, restaurants, retail, and a rooftop garden.

Our thoughts go first and foremost to all those affected by this incident, to their families and colleagues. For all of us, this is above all a human tragedy.

Investigation underway

The Brussels Labour Prosecutor's Office and construction unions have opened an extensive investigation to determine whether all mandatory safety standards were observed on the site, which is managed by a large construction trust. The exact cause of the fire has not yet been established.