BRUSSELS, Belgium, July 1, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - At least five people were killed

and many more injured Wednesday when a fire broke out in a high-rise

apartment block in the Belgian port city of Antwerp, police said.

A fire service spokeswoman said it was not yet known what caused the blaze,

which broke out mid-morning in the building of around 80 apartments on the

bank of the river Scheldt.

"At least five people have lost their lives in the fire and many others have

been seriously injured," police spokeswoman Kim Bastiaens told Flemish public

broadcaster VRT.

She said rescue teams were still working to locate other possible victims.

Firefighters and medics deployed in large numbers to the scene, where

television footage showed thick black smoke billowing from the upper floors

of the building.

Resident Geert Dewulf, who lives on the 10th floor, told an AFP reporter at

the scene he was dialled into a work meeting when he heard fire detectors go

off and his wife saw smoke in the corridor.

"We went out onto the balcony and maybe eight or 10 minutes later

firefighters came with a ladder to evacuate us," said the 67-year-old

consultant.

"It was just masses of black smoke," said Dewulf, who told AFP he had been

promised hotel accommodation but "had no idea" when he would be able to

return home.

Prime Minister Bart De Wever praised the emergency services for their work in

difficult conditions.

"My thoughts are with the victims and the residents evacuated after this

terrible fire," De Wever wrote on X.

BSS/AFP/SSS/1830 hrs