Belgium Roundup: Deadly Oxy Tower Fire, Ghent Hit-and-Run
A devastating fire at Brussels’ Oxy Tower claimed six lives on Tuesday, marking one of Belgium’s worst construction site disasters in recent years. Meanwhile, a 9-year-old girl fights for her life after a hit-and-run in Ghent, train services were suspended between Bruges and Ostend following a cable theft attempt, and new figures reveal De Lijn has failed to collect nearly half of the €16.2 million in fines issued to fare evaders in 2025.
Deadly Oxy Tower Fire Claims Six Lives
The fire broke out on the morning of July 14 on the second floor of the Oxy Tower at De Brouckère Square in Brussels, a former 1970s-era building undergoing a major renovation. The flames spread rapidly to the first floor and, critically, via the lift shaft to level -2. Two lifts plummeted down the shaft, trapping workers inside. According to VRT NWS, rescue teams recovered six bodies from the lift shaft after hours of difficult operations. Two additional workers remain hospitalized with severe burns, and a firefighter was treated on-site for heat stroke.
King Filip and Prime Minister Bart De Wever (N-VA) visited the disaster site, underscoring the national significance of the tragedy. Brussels Mayor Philippe Close called it “a drama that deeply affects us,” while project developers Immobel and Whitewood pledged full cooperation with the investigation. The Oxy project — a conversion of the former Muntgebouw into 120 apartments, 316 hotel rooms, and 44,000 m² of office space — was in its final renovation phase with approximately 250 workers on site. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with the labor auditor’s office involved.
Nine-Year-Old Zain Critically Injured in Ghent Hit-and-Run
On Monday evening, 9-year-old Zain was struck by a scooter on the Gasmeterlaan in Ghent as she crossed a bike path returning home from Rabot Park. HLN reports she suffered a skull fracture and was initially taken to AZ Sint-Lucas before being transferred to UZ Gent in critical condition.
The driver, a 14-year-old boy, fled the scene but was apprehended shortly afterward. The scooter was stolen. The suspect will be brought before a juvenile judge. According to Zain’s brother, there were two boys on the scooter, and only one has been caught. As of Tuesday afternoon, Zain’s condition was cautiously improving but remained precarious.
Train Services Suspended After Cable Theft Attempt
Train services between Bruges and Ostend were suspended for most of Tuesday after thieves cut cables along the railway track between Jabbeke and Ostend overnight. According to VRT NWS, no cables were stolen, but significant damage was done. Replacement buses were organized for approximately 100 affected passengers. Infrabel conducted repairs throughout the day, and service resumed by the afternoon with residual delays.
Infrabel spokesperson Frédéric Petit noted that cable thefts are more common in Wallonia (75% of cases) but rare in West Flanders. On average, cable thefts cause 45 minutes of delay daily on the Belgian rail network.
De Lijn Struggles to Collect €16 Million in Fare Evasion Fines
New figures obtained by Flemish MP Jasper Pillen (Anders) reveal that De Lijn issued approximately 93,500 fines worth €16.2 million in 2025, but only €8.5 million (52%) has been collected. As HLN reports, in 2024 the collection rate was 60%. After three years, approximately 70% of fines are typically paid, but unpaid fines become statute-barred after five years.
Reasons for non-payment include insolvent offenders, incorrect address data, people moving abroad, payment plans stretching over months, and contested fines. Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder (N-VA) defended the 70% collection rate as “normal” and higher than the NMBS. However, De Lijn CEO Ann Schoubs has previously described the government’s target of €30 million extra from fines as “unrealistic.”
Analysis and Outlook
The Oxy Tower fire is likely to dominate political discourse in the coming days, with questions about construction site safety, fire prevention in high-rise renovations, and emergency protocols. The labor auditor’s office and potentially criminal investigators will examine whether safety protocols were followed.
The hit-and-run in Ghent highlights ongoing concerns about juvenile crime and road safety, while the cable theft underscores the vulnerability of critical infrastructure. Meanwhile, De Lijn’s fine collection struggles reveal a structural problem in public transport funding that may fuel political tensions as the company simultaneously cuts 204 bus lines as part of broader austerity measures.