Six Workers Killed, Two Critical After Devastating Fire at Brussels’ Oxy Building
A catastrophic fire at the Oxy building in central Brussels has claimed the lives of six construction workers and left two others in life-threatening condition, authorities confirmed on Wednesday. The blaze, which broke out on the morning of July 14, spread into a lift shaft where workers were installing elevators, triggering a chain of events that led to one of the deadliest construction site accidents in recent Belgian history.
According to VRT NWS, forensic experts began an on-site inspection on Wednesday as the investigation into the cause of the fire continues. The two surviving workers remain hospitalized at the Military Hospital in Neder-over-Heembeek with severe burns.
The Tragedy Unfolds
The fire alarm was received by the Brussels Fire Brigade in the early morning of Tuesday, July 14. Flames broke out on the second floor of the Oxy building — the former Muntcentrum located at De Brouckèreplein — which is undergoing a massive €300 million renovation. Around 250 workers were present on the construction site at the time.
Walter Derieuw, spokesperson for the Brussels Fire Brigade, told BRUZZ that while the fire on the first and second floors was quickly brought under control, flames entered the lift shaft and spread to basement level -2, leading to a severe blaze that was contained roughly an hour later.
Six workers were reported missing after the evacuation. Their bodies were recovered late Tuesday afternoon from a lift car that had plunged down the shaft. The recovery operation was painstaking — Civil Protection teams had to lift the collapsed elevator before they could access the victims. A second lift shaft was also searched but yielded no additional casualties.
The victims include five Belgian nationals and one Romanian national. Four of the six workers were employed by a subcontractor based in Limburg. Identification is ongoing, with forensic doctors on site.
Broken Lift Cable Under Scrutiny
A critical finding has emerged from the preliminary investigation: one of the lift cables was found to have snapped, causing the lift car to plummet down the shaft. Brecht Speybrouck, spokesperson for the Brussels Labour Auditor’s Office (Arbeidsauditoraat), confirmed the development.
“One of the cables has broken,” Speybrouck said. “But details about exactly how it happened and from which floor the lift came down are not yet known.” He added that it remains unclear whether the fall, smoke inhalation, or the fire itself caused the deaths.
The Labour Auditor’s Office has opened a preliminary investigation against persons unknown to determine whether workplace welfare laws were violated. Forensic experts are conducting a thorough examination of the building, with every floor of the lift shaft needing verification. Speybrouck explained that the expertise will take time: “It concerns a lift shaft, so every floor must be verified to analyze where the fire was, where it started, and where it may have spread.”
National Response
The tragedy has drawn an extraordinary response from Belgium’s highest authorities. King Filip and Prime Minister Bart De Wever visited the disaster site on Tuesday, underscoring the national significance of the incident.
Brussels Mayor Philippe Close (PS) described the event as “a tragedy that deeply affects us,” extending his thoughts to the victims, their families, and the injured. Interior Minister Bernard Quintin (MR) expressed shock at the “tragedy that has taken place in the heart of our capital,” while Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) offered condolences.
Project developers Whitewood and Immobel, the joint developers of the Oxy project, issued statements expressing profound sorrow and pledging full cooperation with the investigation. All renovation work at the site has been suspended indefinitely.
Background and Context
The Oxy building, originally constructed between 1967 and 1971 in a distinctive X-shape design, was sold by the City of Brussels and Bpost to Whitewood in early 2019. Developer Immobel later joined as a 50% partner. The ambitious renovation project, designed by Norwegian firm Snøhetta and Antwerp-based Binst Architects, was slated for completion in late 2026 or early 2027.
Notably, a previous fire occurred at the same construction site in April 2024, damaging the roof but causing no injuries. That incident may now face renewed scrutiny as investigators examine whether adequate fire prevention measures were in place.
Investigation and Accountability
The Labour Auditor’s Office investigation will be crucial in determining accountability. Investigators are examining whether deficiencies in workplace safety protocols can be linked to the deadly fire. The fact that the investigation is opened “against persons unknown” suggests no specific party has yet been identified as potentially liable, though this could change as evidence emerges.
A key question investigators face is whether the lift cable snapped due to direct fire damage or a pre-existing defect. The lifts in question were newly installed as part of the renovation but were already in use for transporting workers and materials.
What’s Next
The two critically injured workers remain in life-threatening condition at the Military Hospital, and their recovery will be closely monitored. All renovation work at the Oxy building has been suspended until further notice. Once forensic experts complete their examination and the seal on the building is lifted, prevention advisors from the various companies involved must also give clearance before work can resume.
The long-term future of the Oxy project — a flagship redevelopment in the heart of Brussels — remains uncertain. The previous fire in April 2024, while less severe, may raise questions about whether adequate fire prevention measures were implemented following that incident. This tragedy is likely to prompt broader scrutiny of construction safety practices across Belgium’s building sector.