BBC<\/a> reports, quoting Belgian police.<\/p>\nThe blaze broke out shortly before 10:00 (08:00 GMT) on Wednesday, July 1, in the Linkeroever district. Thick smoke was seen billowing from the eighth floor, rapidly spreading through the building and complicating evacuation efforts.<\/p>\n
Dramatic footage showed a man escaping the smoke by climbing from his balcony into a neighbouring apartment through a window.<\/p>\n
Police said the building houses more than 200 residents and confirmed that multiple bodies had already been recovered.<\/p>\n
One resident, Geert Dewulf, described how dense smoke trapped him inside his apartment. \u201cWe 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,\u201d he told Belgian public television.<\/p>\n
Firefighters said they were conducting door-to-door searches to locate potential victims, noting that the speed at which the smoke spread made evacuation significantly more difficult.<\/p>\n
Another resident said his parents-in-law \u2014 including former Antwerp mayor Bob Cools \u2014 had been safely evacuated and taken to hospital. \u201cWe tried our utmost to save the cat but unfortunately in the end we were unable to,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Authorities said it was too early to determine the cause of the fire. However, witnesses cited by De Standaard newspaper reported that work had been underway on the roof of the building.<\/p>\n
Antwerp fire brigade spokeswoman Marie de Clercq described the incident as a complex operation, with poor visibility and heavy smoke severely hampering firefighting efforts.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Bart De Wever said his thoughts were with the victims and displaced residents affected by what he described as a \u201cterrible fire\u201d in Linkeroever.<\/p>\n
By Tamilla Hasanova<\/p>\n
Caliber.Az<\/p>\n
Read more about the key topics in this news story.<\/p>\n
Views: 23<\/p>\n
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