Fire at Brussels Oxy tower kills six as lifts trapped workers

Six workers found dead in lift after fire at Brussels Oxy tower

Six people were recovered from a lift shaft after a fire broke out around 08:00 (07:00 BST) on Tuesday at the Oxy tower, a building under construction in central Brussels, authorities said. The blaze was extinguished swiftly, but flames spread into the lift shafts and left two lifts stuck.

Rescuers pried open one elevator and recovered six bodies after an operation that took several hours, the Brussels Labour Prosecutor’s Office said. Officials initially reported at least six people missing and warned there could be more victims in the other lift or elsewhere in the site.

Brecht Speybrouck, spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office, confirmed the recovered bodies came from a lift blocked in a shaft. Local media also reported that two people were taken to hospital with serious burns and a firefighter received on-scene treatment for exposure to high temperatures.

Brussels Mayor Philippe Close commended emergency teams for doing “an exceptional job” under particularly difficult circumstances. Prime Minister Bart De Wever and King Philippe of the Belgians visited the scene in the afternoon, Belgian outlet RTBF reported.

The Oxy tower, still under construction, is planned to include apartments, a hotel, restaurants and bars and stands about 500m from the Grand Place, the city’s central Baroque square.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

The incident highlights safety risks on large urban construction projects, where complex vertical shafts and active lift systems can transform a localized fire into a fatal entrapment hazard. Regulators and developers may face renewed pressure to review emergency evacuation protocols, fire suppression measures within lift shafts, and contractor safety oversight to prevent similar tragedies.

For the local community and the construction sector, the event could prompt more stringent inspections and faster adoption of integrated safety systems—steps that carry short-term costs but aim to reduce catastrophic outcomes and reassure future residents and investors.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

• Six bodies were recovered from a lift shaft after a fire at the Oxy tower in central Brussels.
• The fire started around 08:00 (07:00 BST) and spread into lift shafts, trapping at least two elevators.
• Two people were hospitalized with serious burns and a firefighter was treated on site.
• Authorities and officials, including the prime minister and king, visited the scene; investigations are ongoing.
• The Oxy tower is still under construction and will house flats, a hotel and commercial spaces.