Antwerp apartment fire kills 5, injures many

On Wednesday, a tragic fire in an apartment building in Antwerp, Belgium, resulted in the deaths of at least 5 individuals, with numerous others injured. The fire ignited mid-morning on the eighth floor of a 10-storey structure located in the Linkeroever area, home to over 200 residents. According to police spokesperson Kim Bastiaens, the casualties were confirmed to Belgian broadcaster VTM, with many suffering from serious and minor injuries. The blaze originated on the ground floor, and forensic teams are currently working to determine its cause. Firefighters encountered challenging conditions due to the fire's severity. Residents were instructed to keep windows and doors shut and to turn off ventilators due to smoke, while evacuation procedures were in progress. Meanwhile, a separate fire in Germany claimed three lives.