Several dead in fire at Brussels OXY building – six people reported missing

According to the public prosecutor's office, „rund 250 Arbeiter“ were on the construction site at the scene of the disaster. The fire sei „einem Feuerwehrsprecher zufolge in der Früh ausgebrochen“, heißt es in der Meldung weiter. The emergency services „zu einem kleinen Feuer im zweiten Stock des Gebäudes ausgerückt, sagte er“ – the situation then reportedly escalated significantly.

Second elevator initially inaccessible

The dead were „nach der Löschung des Brandes gefunden“, said the public prosecutor. In addition, „konnte nicht ausgeschlossen werden, dass sich darin weitere Tote befinden“ – referring to another elevator in the same building, „zu dem es zunächst keinen Zugang“ gab. According to the reports, six people were considered missing, „weitere Personen werden vermisst“.

During the operation itself, according to a fire department spokesperson, „ein Feuerwehrmann […] bei den Löscharbeiten“ suffered heatstroke. In addition, „zwei Arbeiter […] Verbrennungen erlitten und wurden zur Behandlung ins Krankenhaus gebracht“. The emergency workers were thus deployed under considerable personal strain as well.

City government responds

Brussels Mayor Philippe Close spoke at the scene of a „Drama, das tief berühre“. „Er versprach Unterstützung für alle Betroffene und dankte den Rettungskräften für ihren Einsatz“, reported dpa. This increased pressure on Tuesday afternoon for a swift investigation into how such a tragedy could have occurred in an elevator of a busy downtown building.

In the complex, located in a busy pedestrian zone in the heart of central Brussels, extensive renovation work was underway at the time of the fire, according to reports. Among other things, „sollten Aufzüge eingebaut werden“ – precisely those elevators in which the lifeless people were later discovered. The public prosecutor's office and the fire department initially did not comment on the specific sequence of events.

Information on the cause of the fire

The report was distributed via the dpa news channel on Tuesday at 3:18 p.m.; the Austrian news agency APA is cited as the original source, dated 14.7.2026. „Das ist eine Nachricht direkt aus dem dpa-Newskanal“, hieß es in der Verteilung. There were initially no official details available on possible causes of the fire, building regulations, or the exact number of missing persons.

It also remained unclear on Tuesday whether the lifeless individuals belonged to the approximately 250 workers on the construction site or to other people who were in the building. Due to the ongoing renovation work, part of the building had been a construction site area, according to earlier statements. As of the time of reporting, the public prosecutor's office was unable to provide either a definitive number of victims or information on the identity of the deceased.

Emergency services were deployed for hours; according to initial findings, the focus of the fire was on the second floor of the building. Images from the pedestrian zone showed cordoned-off areas and numerous emergency vehicles in the afternoon. Residents reported heavy smoke development in the morning.

Support for relatives and the injured

According to investigators, the background of the fire still needs to be clarified. Since the OXY building is currently undergoing extensive renovation and approximately 250 workers were present, questions regarding occupational safety, escape routes, and the function of the elevators are likely to be central to the subsequent investigation. The role of the small fire source on the second floor as a possible point of origin will also need to be examined, according to investigative sources.

The Brussels city administration announced aid for those affected via Mayor Close. Details – such as a citizen hotline, psychosocial support, or assistance services for relatives – were initially not made public. However, authorities and hospitals were prepared to care for the injured and relatives, the city said.

The tragedy triggered widespread sympathy in Belgium on Tuesday afternoon. National bodies and other cities also expressed their condolences. Photos and videos of the cordoned-off downtown area spread rapidly on social networks; many users asked about concrete ways to help or donate.

Search for the missing

According to the status of the investigation, an work step involving increased fire or heat exposure had apparently been underway in the affected elevator. This conclusion was suggested by reports of welding work and similar activities in connection with the elevator installation, although the authorities did not confirm this on Tuesday. An official statement on the cause of the fire was pending.

As the firefighting efforts progressed, the number of confirmed dead continued to rise. The public prosecutor's office also pointed to a second elevator in the building, which remained blocked. It should initially not be ruled out that further victims might be found there. A final assessment would only be possible after this elevator had been fully opened.

Late on Tuesday afternoon, the news situation was consolidated by supra-regional reporting. Several Belgian media outlets picked up the dpa report and supplemented it with their own observations on site. The city announced a further official statement for the evening, as soon as confirmed information from the public prosecutor's office was available.

The search for the six people initially considered missing was also continued, according to the authorities. These are presumably workers from the construction site whose whereabouts could not be conclusively established on Tuesday. Relatives who had been worried since the morning hours were asked to contact the official contact points.

By editorial deadline on Tuesday evening, the number of dead remained unclear. However, the authorities made clear that the lifeless individuals found so far in the first elevator had already been counted and that every effort was being made to gain access to the second elevator. The investigation into the cause of the fire was ongoing.