Five Women Killed in Antwerp Apartment Fire on Linkeroever

A devastating fire in a 10-story apartment building on Linkeroever in Antwerp has claimed the lives of five women and injured 16 others, according to VRT NWS. The blaze broke out around 9:53 AM on Wednesday, July 1, at August Vermeylenlaan 1, rapidly spreading smoke through service shafts from the ground floor to the upper levels of the building, which houses approximately 80 apartments and over 200 residents.

The Fire and Its Cause

The fire originated on the ground floor due to what authorities have described as a “technical problem.” According to the building’s property manager, three workers were installing a new electrical cabinet when they reportedly struck a water pipe while drilling, causing a short circuit that ignited the blaze. “It started crackling and shortly after flames appeared. Then it went extremely fast,” the syndicus told VRT NWS.

The fire spread rapidly through a service shaft, with toxic smoke traveling from the ground floor to upper floors. Fire services from Antwerp Zone, Waasland, and Rand responded, and the Medical Intervention Plan (MIP) was activated. Drones were deployed for reconnaissance as firefighters battled the blaze, which took approximately six hours to fully extinguish.

Victims and Identification

All five victims were women, the Antwerp Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed on Thursday. Three have been identified: women aged 54, 80, and 93. The 54-year-old was visiting her 93-year-old mother at the time of the fire. The remaining two victims are still undergoing identification. All five died primarily from smoke inhalation, according to prosecutor’s spokesperson Kristof Aerts, who noted that an investigating judge has been appointed on charges of involuntary arson.

Sixteen people were injured, though none were in life-threatening condition, and all were later discharged from hospital, according to Antwerp Mayor Els Van Doesburg.

Evacuation and Community Response

Over 200 residents were evacuated from the building, many rescued by ladder trucks. Among those evacuated were former Antwerp mayor Bob Cools, aged 92, and his 89-year-old wife, who were carried from their eighth-floor apartment on stretchers. Their son-in-law, Walter Callebaut, described the ordeal to VRT NWS: “We are incredibly grateful for the help from the fire brigade, ambulance services, police, and the people at Hof ter Schelde where we were taken in.”

Residents of the unaffected section of the building were allowed to return after each apartment was inspected. Those from the affected section were initially housed at a nearby care center before being moved to a hotel in Beveren. The property manager estimated that residents may be unable to return for up to two months.

Official Response

King Filip, Prime Minister Bart De Wever, and Antwerp Mayor Els Van Doesburg visited the scene to meet with emergency services and affected residents. Van Doesburg called it “a pitch-black day for our city,” adding, “I stand here with an incredibly heavy heart. The fire that took place here this morning has claimed the lives of at least five people. That is a high human toll.” The City of Antwerp has opened an online condolence register for the victims.

Fire Safety Debate Reignited

The tragedy has sparked a broader public discussion about fire safety in older high-rise residential buildings in Belgium. Fire safety expert and former firefighter Tim Renders emphasized that smoke inhalation is the primary cause of death in residential fires, telling VRT NWS that “smoke is always the biggest problem. It’s toxic and removes oxygen. And it causes panic.”

Bert Brugghemmans, commander of Brandweer Zone Antwerpen, noted that fire services face legal limitations on conducting preventive inspections of private residences, suggesting that legislative changes may be needed. The fire is the deadliest residential blaze in Belgium in recent years, with 56 people having died in 51 residential fires across the country in 2025.

What’s Next

An official fire expert has been appointed to determine the exact cause of the blaze, while the investigating judge examines potential negligence by the workers or contracting company involved in the electrical installation. The tragedy is expected to fuel calls for stricter fire safety regulations for older apartment buildings and may lead to legislative changes regarding mandatory preventive inspections.