Deadly Anderlecht Fire: Two Bodies Found, Two Still Missing
A catastrophic fire that tore through a warehouse in Anderlecht, Brussels, on Saturday morning has claimed at least two lives, with two additional people still unaccounted for as the search continues. The Brussels public prosecutor’s office has opened a judicial investigation into the blaze, which completely destroyed the storage facility on Maurice Herbettelaan.
The Blaze and Emergency Response
The fire broke out around 7:00 AM on Saturday, June 6, sending a massive plume of black smoke visible across large parts of Brussels. The Brussels fire department responded with multiple units, including five fire engines, a drone team, and a helicopter from the federal police, according to VRT NWS.
The warehouse, used by multiple tenants for storing construction materials and electric scooters, was fully engulfed in flames within minutes. Firefighters faced significant challenges due to the risk of collapse. “The entire warehouse was immediately in flames. There was also a risk of collapse, so initially the fire brigade could not enter the building,” VRT NWS journalist Gitte Van Hoyweghen reported from the scene.
By 9:20 AM, the fire was declared under control, but the building was completely destroyed. A construction company was brought in to demolish the structure so that firefighters could extinguish remaining hot spots. One firefighter sustained a minor knee injury during the operation.
Evacuations and Community Impact
Approximately 50 to 70 nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution, with the municipal emergency plan activated. Those displaced were taken to a reception center operated by the Red Cross. The Brussels fire department issued a BE-Alert message asking residents to keep windows and doors closed due to smoke.
“50 residents are being taken care of by the Red Cross. Everything is being done to ensure that the evacuated residents can return home as soon as possible,” said Walter Derieuw, spokesperson for the Brussels fire department, as reported by BRUZZ.
Most residents were allowed to return home by Saturday afternoon, with the last evacuees returning by 6:00 PM. The adjacent Vrije Basisschool de Zonnebloem was thoroughly inspected on Sunday and declared safe for students to return on Monday.
Discovery of Victims
On Saturday evening, as demolition work progressed, two bodies were discovered in the rubble. The Brussels public prosecutor’s office confirmed the discovery of multiple bodies on Sunday evening and announced that a judicial investigation had been opened under an investigating judge.
According to VRT NWS, two additional people remain missing, meaning the death toll could rise. The prosecutor’s office has deployed a fire expert, a forensic pathologist, and a victim identification specialist to the scene.
“After the discovery of multiple bodies, the Brussels public prosecutor’s office has referred the case to an investigating judge,” the prosecutor’s office stated. “Thorough investigation is currently being conducted. Out of respect for the bereaved and to protect the integrity of the investigation, no further details are being released at this time.”
Investigation and Unanswered Questions
The cause of the fire remains unknown. Initial speculation suggests it may have started on the roof or in the courtyard where construction materials and electric steps were stored, but this has not been confirmed. The metal roof of the building meant there was no asbestos risk from the fire, fire officials confirmed.
Unconfirmed media reports, cited by outlets including Het Nieuwsblad and De Telegraaf, suggest that the deceased may be a father and son, and that the two missing individuals are of Polish and Moroccan nationality. However, the Brussels prosecutor’s office has not officially confirmed any identities, and authorities have urged caution regarding unverified information.
“The fatal victims have probably not yet been identified, and that’s why the prosecutor’s office is being sparse with information,” Van Hoyweghen noted. “It will probably take a while before we know the exact circumstances.”
Broader Context
This incident is the latest in a series of significant fires in the Brussels region in recent weeks, including a blaze at a recycling company in Haren and a bar fire in Schaarbeek. The warehouse fire has raised questions about fire safety compliance in multi-tenant storage facilities, though officials have not yet commented on this aspect.
What’s Next
The judicial investigation will focus on determining the exact cause of the fire and whether any criminal or regulatory violations contributed to the tragedy. The search for the two missing persons continues, and formal identification of the victims is expected to take time. Authorities have indicated that more information may be released in the coming days as the investigation progresses.
As BRUZZ reported, the prosecutor’s office has emphasized that no further details will be shared at this stage out of respect for the families and to preserve the integrity of the investigation. The community of Anderlecht now waits for answers as the search and investigative efforts continue.