Oxy Building Fire Investigation: First Phase Complete, Seals Lifted
The first phase of the judicial investigation into the devastating fire at the Oxy building in Brussels has been completed, with authorities ordering the lifting of seals on the site, the Brussels Labour Auditorate announced on Monday, July 21. The development marks a significant step forward in the inquiry into the July 14 blaze that claimed the lives of six workers and left two others critically injured.
Background: A Tragedy at Place De Brouckère
On the morning of July 14, a fire broke out at the Oxy building on Place De Brouckère, one of Brussels’ most prominent central squares. The building, formerly the administrative headquarters of the City of Brussels, was undergoing a major renovation to be converted into a multifunctional complex featuring apartments, restaurants, and a rooftop bar. Approximately 250 workers were on site when the fire started in the early morning on the second floor.
According to VRT NWS, the initial fire was extinguished, but flames spread into an elevator shaft, creating a new fire source. Six workers who were trapped in the elevator shaft died, making it one of the worst workplace accidents in Belgium in recent years. Two other workers suffered severe burns and remain hospitalized in critical condition.
Investigation Progress
The Brussels Labour Auditorate confirmed that the first phase of the investigation — which included on-site inspections by court-appointed experts and the Well-being at Work Inspection (CBT) — is now complete. The seals that had been placed on the building will be lifted in the coming days, allowing contractors to access the site.
As RTBF reports, the investigation will now enter a new phase over the coming weeks. Court-appointed experts will draft their findings and conclusions in expert reports. The Labour Auditorate will then analyze all information, documents, and expert reports to determine whether further investigative steps are needed to establish the cause or causes of the workplace accident.
“In the meantime, additional information and documents are being requested from the various parties concerned,” the Auditorate stated in a press release. “In the coming weeks, the investigation will enter a new phase. The appointed judicial experts will have the necessary time to draft their findings and conclusions in their expert reports.”
Workplace Safety Concerns
The Well-being at Work Inspection (CBT) has ordered a provisional halt to the construction site. While contractors may re-enter the building, they are permitted only to remedy identified safety deficiencies. Full work can resume only once all conditions imposed by the CBT inspection have been met, according to RTL Info.
The CBT’s intervention signals that significant safety deficiencies were identified at the site, raising broader questions about workplace safety protocols in Brussels’ construction sector.
Victim Identification and Tributes
All six victims were formally identified by Thursday, July 16. Four of the six victims were employees of OTM, a company based in Alken in Flemish Limburg, where a book of condolences was opened. As RTBF reported, multiple identification methods were used, and families were informed.
A commemoration organized by the joint union front took place on Friday, July 17 at the OXY construction site, with a separate tribute drawing approximately 100 people. King Philippe, Prime Minister Bart De Wever, and Brussels Mayor Philippe Close all visited the scene on the day of the fire.
Communication Blackout and Next Steps
The Labour Auditorate has announced it will not communicate further on the case for the next three to four weeks to allow the investigation to proceed smoothly. No updates will be provided on the health status of the two hospitalized victims, in the interest of their families.
According to Brussels Today, families of the victims will be informed of results first, before any public communication is made. The Auditorate stated: “In the interest of the families, no communication will henceforth be made regarding the state of health of the two victims still hospitalized.”
Looking Ahead
The coming weeks will be critical as judicial experts prepare their reports. Depending on their findings, criminal or civil liability may be assigned to contractors, project managers, or safety supervisors. This tragedy has already sparked discussions about workplace safety in Belgium’s construction sector, and the final conclusions of the investigation could prompt stricter regulations, particularly regarding fire safety in renovation projects.
The question of what exactly caused the fire to spread from the second floor into the elevator shaft — and whether proper safety protocols were followed — remains at the heart of the inquiry.