ANTWERP — Multiple people died and many were injured in an apartment block fire in Antwerp, Belgium, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. The fire began on the eighth floor of a 10-story building in the Linkeroever neighborhood of Antwerp.

The Antwerp fire department received a call regarding the fire at 9:53 a.m. local time. More than 200 people reside in the building. An evacuation of the building was underway, and local residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed and to turn off ventilators due to smoke.

Several teams of first responders and police, including a specialized drone unit, were dispatched to the site. A medical emergency plan was activated to prevent victims from overwhelming nearby hospitals. Smoke at the scene diminished by early afternoon.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever posted on social media regarding the incident. "My thoughts are with the victims and the evacuated residents of the terrible fire on Linkeroever," De Wever wrote. He added, "My deep appreciation goes out to the emergency services who are striving to help the many affected people as quickly and safely as possible, and who are working hard to bring the fire under control." De Wever previously served as mayor of Antwerp.

Marie De Clercq, a spokesperson for the Antwerp Fire Zone, described the situation. "This is a very complex fire with poor visibility and heavy smoke inside the building," De Clercq said. She added, "That makes it more difficult to extinguish." The cause of the fire was not immediately clear.