Fire at Brussels OXY Tower kills several, six missing

A fire at a major construction site in central Brussels on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, has left multiple people dead, several injured, and six workers missing. The blaze broke out at the OXY Tower, a prominent mixed-use development on Place de Brouckere undergoing renovation, where more than 200 workers were present.

Authorities confirmed that an unspecified number of fatalities were discovered inside one of the building's two elevator cabs after flames spread from a second-floor fire into the lift shaft. Brecht Speybrouck, a spokesman for the labor inspection service, stated that charred bodies were found in the accessible elevator but did not provide a precise count. He said it remains unclear whether the victims include any of the six missing workers.

Rescue operations are focused on reaching a second, inaccessible elevator shaft where officials fear the missing individuals may be trapped. Firefighters have been unable to access this area due to debris and difficult working conditions. Brussels Fire Brigade spokesperson Walter Derieuw said psychological support is being provided to evacuated workers by the Red Cross at a nearby city administrative center.