Several people were killed and many others injured in a fire that broke out Wednesday morning in an apartment block in the Belgian city of Antwerp. Local police reported that the blaze began on the eighth floor of a 10-story building in the city's Linkeroever neighborhood.
The apartment block, which was home to more than 200 people, was evacuated as smoke billowed from the building. Fire brigades from various districts were deployed to the scene to battle the raging fire. While several injuries have been reported, police stated it was too early to provide a specific figure for the total number of casualties.
Police issued warnings to local residents affected by the smoke, advising them to keep their windows and doors closed. Authorities also recommended switching off ventilation systems if necessary to avoid the inhalation of smoke.