The fire has been extinguished, but the damage to the building is significant, primarily due to smoke spread. The adjacent block is expected to be released after ventilation, but the residents of the affected building will likely have to spend the night elsewhere. According to van Doesburg, every effort is being made to allow residents to safely return to their apartments for a brief time to retrieve clothing and belongings, as many had to evacuate in a hurry.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation but is believed to be related to a “technical problem” on the ground floor. It’s said that a water pipe was damaged during the installation of an electrical cabinet, but fire and police officials have not yet confirmed whether this caused the fire.
King Philippe and PM Bart De Wever visited the site on Wednesday evening.
The initial translation of this content was generated by AI. All facts, context, and language have subsequently been verified and validated by a human editorial team.
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